Effects of a person-centred care intervention in an intensive care unit: Using mixed methods to examine nurses’ perspectives
Funding information
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (grant number NRF-2018R1C1B5085623).
Abstract
Aim
We identified nurses’ experiences and changes in person- and family-centred care (PFCC) after applying a family-visiting programme in an intensive care unit (ICU).
Background
Critical care provision is shifting to include communication among patients, families and health care providers.
Methods
We used mixed methodology and a group pre- and post-test design. In 2019, 30 ICU nurses completed an 8-week programme, including keeping a diary and completing fundamental care activities. A survey of PFCC nursing performance was completed pre- and post-programme, and 15 nurses were interviewed post-programme. Performance differences were examined through paired t tests; qualitative data were analysed by thematic analysis.
Results
The pre- and post-scores were 3.06 ± 0.34 and 4.00 ± 0.29, respectively (t = 17.38, p =.000), and five main themes and 13 subtopics were revealed. Most nurses ‘discovered the importance of nursing through a truthful relationship with ICU patients’ families’.
Conclusion
For effective PFCC, changes in nurses’ perceptions and hospital organisation are required, such as improving the ICU working environment, assigning suitable health care personnel to provide care and implementing open-visit programmes.
Implications for Nursing Management
Hospital policymakers and nurse managers should take care to provide staff support and high-quality patient care to realize effective PFCC.
