Investigation of predictor factors of the nursing students attitudes toward parents' participation in care

Abstract

PurposeA positive attitude toward family-centered care practices should be developed in undergraduate education. This study aimed to investigate nursing students' attitudes toward parental participation in child patient care and the factors that influence it. Design and methodsThis study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study data were collected from the nursing department of a university located in the west of Turkey. The study was conducted with 260 nursing students. The descriptive Features Form, Family-Centered Care Practices Form, and Parental Participation Attitude Scale were used in data collection. ResultsThe students' average parental participation attitude in care scores was at a moderate level. It has been determined that gender, hospitalization experience, education on family-centered care, and support from instructors in family-centered care practices had a positive effect on the student's attitudes toward parental participation in care (p < 0.05). The regression analysis showed gender and family-centered care education as predictors of student’ attitudes toward parent participation in care. ConclusionsIt was found that students' attitudes toward parental participation in the care of child patients were at an indecision level and not at the desired grade, and it was affected by gender, hospitalization experience, education, and instructor support. Practice implicationsThe development of family-centered care practices should begin in nursing education. It is recommended that detailed attention be given to topics related to family-centered care in nursing education, and seminars be organized on this subject. Thus, nursing students can both develop a positive attitude toward family-centered care and learn to work together with the family.