Nurses’ and physicians’ Perspective about Barriers to Implement Family Centered Care in Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Abstract

Abstract Background & Aim: Despite widespread implementation of family-centered care (FCC) in children’s hospitals, there is insufficient information about the degree of and barriers to its implementation. This study aims to determine the perspectives of nurses and physicians about barriers to FCC in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Material & Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample was all of the nurses and physicians working in the NICUs of the educational hospitals. Data was collected by a researcher-made valid questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS-PC (v.16). Results: “Units which are not equipped enough for family centered care implementation” (76.6%), “family problems (74%) and “Parents unwilling to stay in the units for a long time” (73.3%) were respectively the three most important barriers from nurses’ perspective. From physicians’ perspective, “Units which are not equipped enough for family-centered care implementation” (69%), “Parents unwilling to stay in the wards for a long time” (65%), and “absence of clear rules and guidelines for the level of involvement of parents in neonatal care” (64%) were respectively the three most important barriers to the implementation of family centered care. Conclusion: Although nurses and physicians agreed upon two barriers but they were not so agree about other factors. To facilitate family centered care, it seems that consideration of the two groups’ perspective to provide an appropriate environment and needed changes in intensive care units is necessary.