Toward developing consensus on family-centred care: An international descriptive study and discussion

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nursing
• Healthcare Delivery Models

Background:

• Family-centered care (FCC) is described variably by nurses globally.
• Limited evidence exists on FCC implementation and outcomes across diverse settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clarify the terminology of family-centered care (FCC).
• To deconstruct FCC elements and achieve an operational definition.
• To establish a consensus on values for defining FCC.

Main Methods:

• A modified Delphi method was employed.
• Expert opinions from participants across eight countries were gathered.
• A list of 27 international consensus statements on FCC was developed.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in understanding FCC were identified among experts.
• Conceptual disagreements regarding FCC were noted.
• The study identified a foundation for future psychometric measurement of FCC.

Conclusions:

• Varied expert interpretations of FCC contribute to conceptual confusion.
• Recommendations are provided to foster a clearer, unified vision of FCC.
• The developed statements can guide future empirical research and practice standardization.