Pediatric Nurses’ Practices and Barriers in Family-Centered Care
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64767/trcn.2025.277022Keywords:
family-centered care, pediatric nurses, nursing practice, barriers to careAbstract
This descriptive research aimed to: (1) examine barriers to family-centered care (FCC) among pediatric nurses, (2) investigate pediatric nurses’ practices of FCC, and (3) compare differences in FCC practices between nurses working in pediatric wards and those working in pediatric and neonatal intensive care units (PICUs/NICUs). The sample consisted of professional nurses who provided care for pediatric and neonatal patients in a tertiary hospital and met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Thai version of the Family-Centered Care Practice Questionnaire based on the framework of Wilson and Dunst, and a perceived barriers to FCC practice questionnaire developed by the researcher. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent t-tests.
The results showed that the overall mean score of perceived barriers to family-centered care among pediatric nurses was at a moderate level (Mean = 2.18, S.D. = 0.56). The most frequently reported barriers were organizational factors (Mean = 2.24, S.D. = 0.69), followed by nursing personnel factors (Mean = 2.21, S.D. = 0.60). The overall mean score of FCC practice among pediatric nurses was at a high level (Mean = 3.73, S.D. = 0.32). Nurses working in PICUs/NICUs demonstrated significantly higher overall FCC practice scores (Mean = 3.80, S.D. = 0.25) than those working in pediatric wards (Mean = 3.65, S.D. = 0.38) (p < 0.05).
When comparing specific dimensions, relational-oriented practice scores among PICU/NICU nurses were significantly higher than those of pediatric ward nurses (p < 0.05), whereas no significant difference was found in participatory care practice between the two groups.
The findings suggest that hospital administrators should address organizational and nursing personnel barriers to enhance the implementation of family-centered care in pediatric nursing. Additionally, pediatric ward nurses should strengthen relational-oriented practices by incorporating identified organizational and personnel barriers into quality improvement plans to promote effective family-centered care.
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