Related Experiment Videos

Parents' and Staff Perceptions of Parental Needs During a Child's Hospital Admission: An Australian Study

Mandie Foster1, Lisa Whitehead2, Diana Arabiat3

  • 1Edith Cowan University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Perth, WA, Australia.

Insights

Parent and staff perceptions of hospital needs align on importance but differ on fulfillment. Understanding demographic influences is key for effective family-centered care delivery.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Healthcare
  • Family-Centered Care
  • Patient Needs Assessment

Background:

  • Hospital admissions significantly impact parents and children.
  • Understanding parental needs is crucial for effective healthcare delivery.
  • Family-centered care (FCC) principles emphasize involving families in care decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify parents' and staff perceptions of parental needs during pediatric hospital admissions.
  • To examine relationships between perceived needs and socio-demographic/clinical variables.
  • To inform improvements in family-centered healthcare practices.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional descriptive study design.
  • Utilized the Needs of Parents' Questionnaire.
  • Involved 46 parents and 17 staff from a pediatric ward in Western Australia.

Main Results:

  • Parent and staff perceptions of need importance were congruent.
  • Discrepancies observed between parents and staff regarding needs being met and needed.
  • Parents rated needs as less important, more met, and more needed than staff.
  • Demographic characteristics significantly influenced perceptions of parental needs.

Conclusions:

  • Healthcare staff must recognize how patient trajectory and demographics affect parental needs.
  • Aligning care delivery with parents' stated needs is essential for effective FCC.
  • Further research is needed to broaden the understanding and application of FCC principles.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos