Urban American Indian Family Caregivers' Perceptions of the Quality of Family-Centered Care

Abstract

A community-based needs assessment was conducted to identify urban American Indian family caregivers' perceptions of the quality of care they received for their children with chronic conditions. Thirty family caregivers in a large midwestern city completed the What Do You Think? Survey. One third of the participants thought their child's providers believed things about their backgrounds that were not true and that they were treated less well because of their ethnic or cultural background. One fourth of the caregivers reported that providers were not sensitive to family needs or adequately informed about their child's condition. To ensure the delivery of family-centered care that is culturally appropriate, we recommend that providers respectfully inquire about the family's particular needs, cultural beliefs, and practices and plan care in partnership with family caregivers.