Families of intensive care unit (ICU) patients often experience distress and dissatisfaction with communication. Structured communication frameworks may strengthen family-centered care and improve outcomes. This quasi-experimental, nonrandomized study was conducted in five ICUs across three referral hospitals. Families of patients with reduced consciousness were recruited, with one representative per patient completing questionnaires. In the control group (n = 48), families received routine communication. In the intervention group (n = 48), 10 ICU nurses trained in COMFORT conducted daily 20-min structured sessions for 5 days. Family satisfaction was assessed on Day 5 using the FS-ICU-24, and nurse-family communication quality was measured in the intervention group on Days 1, 3, and 5 with the QUALPAC communication subscale. Families in the intervention group reported significantly higher satisfaction scores, and communication quality improved over time. Implementation of the COMFORT model enhanced family satisfaction and strengthened nurse-family communication in ICUs.

Research in family and peer systems has demonstrated the value of supportive conversations in helping children understand and express emotions around challenging experiences. The aim of this study was to explore the patterns, perceptions, and outcomes of a brief narrative sharing intervention designed to facilitate supportive conversations with youth. We utilized a mixed-methods approach with concurrent data collection among 88 parent-child, peer-peer, and researcher-child dyads. Data were collected through audio-recorded interviews and surveys. We used inductive and deductive coding to characterize interviewer behaviors. Qualitative and quantitative data were integrated to identify patterns in interviews and outcomes. Participants reported high levels of listener supportiveness, comforting responses, and insights through the activity. Integration of data revealed patterns of emotion coaching and participant perceptions in five types of interviews. The brief narrative sharing activity can be tailored by family nurses to support parents and youth in engaging in supportive, strengths-based conversations.

Family members of individuals with polysubstance substance use disorder (PSUD) face many stressors that negatively affect their quality of life (QoL). This study examined the mediating roles of internalized stigma and perceived caregiving burden in the relationship between psychological resilience and QoL among parents of individuals with PSUD. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 277 individuals consisting of mothers or fathers of individuals diagnosed with PSUD. Participants completed several instruments, including the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Parents' Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (adapted), Perceived Family Burden Scale, and WHOQOL-BREF. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and serial mediation analysis performed using SPSS 27.0 and PROCESS macro (Model 6). Psychological resilience was positively associated with higher QoL and showed an indirect association with QoL through a sequential mediation involving internalized stigma and perceived care burden. The model explained 67% of the variance in QoL (R² = 0.672). Internalized stigma was associated with perceived care burden, which in turn was negatively associated with QoL. Our study emphasizes the importance of addressing psychological resilience, stigma, and caregiving burden together to improve the QoL of families affected by PSUD. Multifaceted interventions targeting these interrelated factors are recommended to improve the QoL of caregivers.

The Family Systems Care Unit (FSCU) is a real-life laboratory including a counseling service for family-systems-centered therapeutic conversations with families with burdening health issues. Health care students and professionals observe these conversations for vicarious learning. Video-recorded conversations are used for research and educational purposes. Since 2020, the FSCU has been developed using project management and action learning strategies. As of June 2025, 34 families had used therapeutic conversations. Fifty health care students and professionals observed conversations and participated in the clinical team’s pre- and post-sessions. Thirteen students completed their master’s theses. A case vignette illustrates a family confronted with one family member’s decision to obtain medical aid in dying, demonstrating the interconnectedness of the FSCU’s clinical work, education, and research. The FSCU is a care model that addresses today’s health care and higher education needs. The objectives of this article are to present how this FSCU was realized over a 5-year project period.

Supportive interactions that facilitate the labeling of emotions and problem-solving abilities are linked to family well-being and youth resilience. The purpose of this study was to explore youth perceptions of a narrative sharing intervention, and to identify differences in perceptions based on measures of youth resilience. We used an integrated mixed methods, action research approach with 294 youth. Participants completed a timelining activity, interview, and measures of peer and family relationships and well-being. We used latent class analysis and thematic analysis followed by integration of quantitative and qualitative data. Latent class analysis revealed subgroup patterns based on measures of resilience and family and peer relationships. Participants perceived the timelining activity as a tool to help others understand and appreciate the extent of their struggles and resilience. Timelining may be a useful activity to support parent-peer and peer-peer conversations about coping and resilience. These findings can inform family nursing intervention development.

Although family-centered care (FCC) has been widely studied in pediatric settings, research focusing on families of children with medical complexity is limited, especially regarding parental perspectives in the Canadian context. This study explored how mothers of children with medical complexity conceptualize FCC. A qualitative approach was employed, using semi-structured interviews for data collection. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 19 mothers of children with medical complexity (aged 0-18 years) residing in British Columbia, Canada. Five key themes emerged: (a) Meeting families where they are; (b) Understanding family roles, responsibilities, and preferences; (c) Recognizing that family needs are dynamic and require ongoing reassessment; (d) Encouraging open communication and feedback; and (e) Acknowledging that the health of the child and parents is inextricably linked. Findings provide insights to guide policy and best practices for this population, who represent some of the highest users of pediatric health care services in Canada.

This qualitative review aims to synthesize the evidence on nurses’ experience of intervening with fathers when providing care to their young children. Five databases were searched. Inclusion criteria were (a) nurses’ experience, (b) intervention with fathers, (c) written in English or French. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers. Qualitative thematic synthesis of 17 peer-reviewed studies was performed by 12 family nurse researchers from six countries. Three analytical themes were identified: “Conceiving of the father’s role in terms of his involvement within the family”; “Working with fathers based on the nurse’s individual conception of the paternal role”; and “Developing a sense of efficacy in working with fathers.” The results highlight the importance of raising family nurses’ awareness of fathers’ individual realities. Training in this regard makes it possible to modify nurses’ perceptions of the paternal role and to promote the adoption of father inclusive practices within the family.

This study aimed to learn how a sequence of family-systemic therapeutic conversations created a context to respond to the challenges and needs of a family raising a child with intellectual disability. The data for this qualitative, exploratory, longitudinal single-case study were collected at a Swiss Family Systems Care Unit. The three therapeutic conversations conducted with a single mother of an adolescent with intellectual disability were analyzed using summarizing and explicative content analysis on the within-data source level and structuring content analysis on the across-and-between data source level. The main category, "gaining more ease by modeling burdens and suffering," refers to a better balance of the woman's challenges cumulating to deep suffering. Six subcategories detail the challenges, needs, interventions, and effects. Therapeutic conversations in families with multiple severe vulnerabilities are supportive. The study was written according to the Standards of Reporting Qualitative Research and the Methodological Framework for Organizational Case Studies.