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The Pediatric Inpatient Family Care Conference: a proposed structure toward shared decision-making
David Fox1, Mark Brittan2, Chris Stille2
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado; and Children's Outcomes Research, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado david.fox@childrensocolorado.org.
Insights
This study proposes a structured approach to family care conferences for pediatric inpatients to improve communication. Enhanced patient and family engagement can lead to better healthcare quality and satisfaction.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Patient Communication
- Family Engagement
Background:
- Increasing medical complexity in pediatric inpatients necessitates improved communication strategies.
- Limited data exists on family satisfaction with communication regarding complex medical issues.
- Family care conferences offer a venue for psychosocial support and shared decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a structured model for family care conferences in pediatric inpatient settings.
- To provide a literature-based framework for each phase of these conferences.
- To guide providers and researchers in enhancing inpatient communication.
Main Methods:
- Literature review to inform conference structure.
- Development of a phased model for family care conferences.
- Theoretical framework based on patient and family engagement.
Main Results:
- A defined structure for family care conferences is presented.
- Each phase of the conference is supported by existing literature.
- The model emphasizes the role of engagement in improving communication.
Conclusions:
- A standardized structure for family care conferences is crucial for research and practice.
- Patient and family engagement is key to improving healthcare quality.
- This model provides a roadmap for enhancing communication in pediatric inpatient care.
Abstract:
Over the past decade, there has been a steady increase in the medical complexity of patients on the pediatric inpatient service while at the same time, there are few data to show that families are satisfied with communication of complex issues. Family care conferences are defined as an opportunity outside of rounds to meet and discuss treatment decisions and options. They offer a potential pathway for psychosocial support and facilitated communication. The lack of consensus about the structure of these conferences impedes our ability to research patient, family, and provider outcomes related to communication. The goal of the present article was to describe a structure for family care conferences in the pediatric inpatient setting with a literature-based description of each phase of the conference. The theoretical framework for the structure is that patient and family engagement can improve communication and ultimately health care quality. This proposed model offers guidance to providers and researchers whose goal is to improve communication on the inpatient service.
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