Measuring nurses' attitudes to family care: a longitudinal mixed method study

Abstract

In a scenario of demographic changes with an ageing population and an increase in people with chronic illnesses, the family assumes a central role in the care of their family member. Providing nurses with knowledge and strategies of family-centred care may change current standards of practice to a more family-focused approach. To explore nurses' perceptions on the importance of involving families in the project of care and their attitudes before, during and after an implementation of family-centred care. A longitudinal mixed method study was conducted during the implementation of family-centred care in a health district. A training package for the district nurses and individual coaching by an experienced nurse were offered. The Families' Importance in Nursing Care-Nurses Attitudes (FINC-NA) questionnaire was administered pre- and post training and one year later and two focus groups were conducted. All the 19 health district nurses participated in the study; average age 49.3 years, working experience 26.8 years. Statistically significant changes were observed in all four dimensions of the FINC-NA: family as a personal and professional resource, as a partner and a burden. The same results were confirmed by the focus groups. An educational intervention for home care nurses proved to be useful during the implementation of family-centred care. A key aspect was the support offered to nurses in transferring their knowledge and skills to their practice.