Barriers to family-centred care of hospitalised children at a hospital in Gauteng

Abstract

Background

Hospitalisation is a stressful event for the admitted child and the family. The unfamiliar and stressful hospital environment could increase children’s anxiety and pain experiences. Family-centred care has the potential to promote families’ holistic health, but its implementation is limited.

Aim

To describe the barriers to family-centred care at a specific hospital in Gauteng.

Setting

The study was contextual and was conducted at a specific hospital situated in Gauteng.

Methods

A descriptive qualitative research design was used to collect data from 11 nurses and 14 primary caregivers of hospitalised children. Purposive sampling was used. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Rigour through measures to enhance trustworthiness was ensured and ethical principles related to research with human participants were adhered to.

Results

Three themes indicating the barriers to family-centred care emerged from the data, namely nurse-primary caregiver relationship, primary caregiver involvement, and ward structure and policy.

Conclusion

Barriers to family-centred care involved interpersonal, environmental, and managerial dimensions of the hospital environment where children received care and treatment. A need to enhance family-centred care was therefore identified in order to address relational dimensions of the nurse-primary caregiver relationship, ward structure, and revision of current policies.

Contribution

The article highlights barriers to family-centred care to enable action to be taken in the clinical environment to enhance a family-centred approach and improve the hospitalisation experience for children and caregivers.