Bridging Parental Perceptions and Experiences of Family-Centered Care in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: A...

To examine parents' perceptions and experiences of family-centered care in a pediatric intensive care unit and explore how communication, participation in care, and contextual factors shape these experiences.

An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was used.

In the quantitative phase, 50 parents of children hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit for at least 48 h completed the Descriptive Information Form and the Family-Centered Care Assessment Scale. In the qualitative phase, 15 parents, selected through maximum variation sampling, participated in semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and nonparametric methods, while qualitative data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings from both phases were integrated during interpretation.

Parents generally reported positive perceptions of family-centered care. Exploratory quantitative findings indicated higher family-centered care and support scores among parents who reported greater participation in their child's care. Qualitative findings were organized into four themes: meanings and expectations of family-centered care, communication and professional support, experiences of participation in care, and organizational and environmental influences on care. Integrated findings showed that respectful communication, emotional support, and meaningful parental involvement strengthened family-centered care experiences. In contrast, inconsistent professional approaches, limited involvement in decision-making, and inadequate physical conditions negatively influenced parental experiences.

Parents' experiences of family-centered care in the pediatric intensive care unit were shaped not only by communication with healthcare professionals but also by opportunities for participation, relational trust, and organisational conditions. Strengthening family-centered care may require more consistent communication practices, greater parental involvement in care and decision-making, and more family-supportive care environments.

The findings highlight the importance of effective nurse-parent communication, parental involvement in care, and supportive clinical environments in strengthening family-centered care practices in pediatric intensive care units.

The study followed the Good Reporting of a Mixed Methods Study (GRAMMS) guidelines.