Perceptions of female Saudi undergraduate nursing students toward family-centered care

Abstract

BackgroundWhile family-centered care is considered a vital part of nursing care, nursing students seem to struggle in incorporating family-centered care in the clinical setting. Several factors such as minimal exposure in family interactions throughout their clinical practice, lack of experience in organizing family-centered clinical experiences, access to restricted clinical areas, and inadequate supervision from clinical instructors present as challenges among nursing students in practicing family-centered care. ObjectivesThis study explored the perceptions of nursing students toward family-centered care in Saudi Arabia. DesignThis study used the quantitative approach through the cross-sectional survey method. SettingsThe study was conducted in the Faculty of Nursing of a government university in Saudi Arabia. ParticipantsA total population sample comprising 232 female junior and student nurses participated in the study. MethodsAfter the approval of the Ethical Board Committee had been secured, a survey containing a demographic information sheet and the Family-Centered Care Questionnaire was distributed to the students from June 2018 to February 2019. ResultsThe overall mean of the students' responses in the questionnaire was 3.76 (SD = 0.67, range = 3.40–4.08), indicating a modest perception toward family-centered care. The dimension “family is the constant” received the most positive response from the students (M = 3.90, SD = 0.77), whereas the dimension “parent-to-parent support” was rated the lowest with a mean of 3.64 (SD = 0.89). Junior nursing students had more positive perception toward family-centered care than the seniors. Weak negative correlations were observed between students' age and family-centered care perception. ConclusionsThis study provides insights into family-centered care, which could be used in crafting policies and interventions in various health care settings and nursing education in Saudi Arabia. Such insights could foster positive perceptions toward family-centered care among student nurses and guarantee excellent family-centered care nursing practice.