Pediatric Nurses' Perspectives on Family-Centered Care in Sri Lanka: A Mixed-Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nursing
• Healthcare Implementation Science
• Family-Centered Care Models

Background:

• Family-centered care (FCC) is crucial for pediatric patient outcomes.
• Understanding nurses' perspectives is key to successful FCC implementation.
• Limited research exists on FCC in Sri Lankan pediatric healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate nurses' perceptions and performance of FCC in a Sri Lankan children's hospital.
• To assess the feasibility of implementing FCC within the Sri Lankan healthcare system.

Main Methods:

• A convergent, parallel, mixed-methods design was employed.
• 157 nurses completed self-report surveys.
• 18 nurses participated in focus group interviews.

Main Results:

• Nurses highly rated family participation (4.09±0.51) in perceptions and information-sharing (3.54±0.55) in performance.
• Qualitative themes included the importance of family, support during hospitalization, FCC implementation efforts, existing barriers, and suggested strategies.
• Nurses endorsed FCC concepts but noted knowledge deficits and practical challenges.

Conclusions:

• Sri Lankan nurses generally support FCC and incorporate some elements into practice.
• Significant knowledge gaps and systemic challenges require targeted interventions for effective FCC implementation.
• Addressing these barriers is essential to enhance FCC integration in Sri Lankan pediatric care.