The effect of illness uncertainty and self-efficacy on the perception of shared decision-making among parents of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract

Background: Shared decision-making is essential for improving infant prognoses. Medical staff should consider the effect of illness uncertainty and self-efficacy on parents' perceptions of shared decision-making. Aims: This study examined the impact of illness uncertainty and self-efficacy on the perception of shared decision-making among parents of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. Study Design: A descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study design was used. Data were collected from April to June 2023. A total of 103 parents of infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit participated in this study. The participants used a self-report questionnaire that included general characteristics of their infants, uncertainty of illness, self-efficacy and perception of shared decision-making. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, analysis of variance, Scheffe's test, Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression. Results: Illness uncertainty (r = −.659, p