Family Centered Care: The Perspective of Nurses in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ghana: A Qualitative Exploration
Victoria Awalenkak Agwiah
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale, Ghana and Midwifery and Paediatrics Division, Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives, Accra, Ghana.
Keren-Happuch Twumasiwaa Boateng
*
Midwifery and Paediatrics Division, Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives, Accra, Ghana and Department of Midwifery and Women’s Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Family-Centered Care is a care approach in which healthcare professionals collaborate with the patient's family to plan and make decisions regarding the patient's treatment. Family-Centered Care is widely acknowledged and documented as the optimal care approach for neonatal practice. Despite the growing use of this method, there is a lack of research on the perspectives of healthcare professionals and carers regarding Family-Centered Care. The study aimed to evaluate the viewpoints of nurses regarding FCC in the newborn critical care unit at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
Methodology: The study utilised an exploratory descriptive design employing a qualitative technique, in which focus group talks were held among participants. The material was transcribed and processed via thematic and content analysis techniques.
Findings: Approximately majority of the participants demonstrated awareness of the idea of Family-Centered Care, which they elaborated upon through two main themes namely provision of care for both the patient and their family, and Involvement of relatives in the care of the patient.
Recommendations: Majority of participants expressed that Family-Centered Care was not practiced in their unit. Nevertheless, all participants unanimously concurred that the approach had the potential to yield positive results in terms of patient care outcomes.
Keywords: Family centered care, neonatal intensive care unit, neonates, nurse perspectives, Tamale Teaching Hospital