Self-assessment of family inclusion in institutional policies and practices: nursing team perspective

Abstract

Abstract Objective: To compare the evaluation carried out by the nursing teams of pediatric and maternal-infant with adult patient wards on the inclusion of families in institutional policies and practices. Method: A cross-sectional and descriptive study carried out in a university hospital with 148 professionals from the nursing team of the maternal and pediatric units and 43 from adult units. The data were analyzed by the program Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 22, using the chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Results: The groups presented distinct perceptions about the differentiation between families and visitors in policies and practices; similar perceptions related to the policies and practices are not favorable to the presence of siblings and children, and to the non-inclusion of the families in aspects related to daily care. Conclusion and Implications for Practice: The perception of nursing teams indicates that families are not included in institutional policies and practices. The results of an organizational self-assessment about families' inclusion subsidize a way to improve organizational policies and practices, making it possible to draw up an action plan to implementing Patient and Family Centered Care at the institutional level.