Responses after participating in Family Health Conversations in families with a family member who has suffered a stroke: A mixed methods research study

Abstract

Background: It has been proposed that support for families in which a family member has suffered a stroke should involve the whole family system. Aim: The aim was to evaluate the responses of Family Health Conversation (FamHC) in families with a member under the age of 65 who has been diagnosed with stroke. Methods: In this mixed methods research study, families were included in an intervention group and in a control group. For both groups pre-and post-intervention quantitative data was collected and for the intervention group, qualitative data was collected post-intervention. Underlying theoretical propositions and the two data sets were then integrated. Results: Family health measured as "the general atmosphere of the interaction of the family" had improved in the intervention group when compared to the control group. The intervention families, moreover, described how they had become more cooperative, their communication had improved, they had become more confident with their situation and also when planning for the future when comparing to before the FamHC. Conclusions: Based on the empirical results supporting the theoretical proposition underlying FamHC, we conclude that it works as intended, and the evidence for the theoretical proposition is thereby strengthened. This paper contributes to the scientific evidence concerning FamHC. With the available evidence, RNs are suggested to consider changing practice so as to work in a more family-centred way to support families living with ill-health. Implementing FamHC can be one way of undertaking such supportive work.

Family Health Conversations Conducted by Telephone in Heart Failure Nursing Care: A Feasibility Study

“…Presumably this was because of the trusting environment that FamHCs provided, as previously found by Dorell, Bäckström, et al. (2016) and Sundin et al. (2016) .…”

“…Although the responses in the questionnaires are based on few respondents, the posttest responses showed a tendency for families, in particular the patients, to experience increased support from RNs. Presumably this was because of the trusting environment that FamHCs provided, as previously found by Dorell, Ba¨ckstro¨m, et al (2016) and Sundin et al (2016). For some family caregivers, it was the first time they had been included in a conversation with the RN in the HF clinic and given the chance to talk about their caregiving situation.…”

“…Intervention studies in the area of Family Systems Nursing and the Swedish family-centered nursing have shown promising results ( Östlund & Persson, 2014 ) such as positive outcomes for RNs’ job satisfaction, conceptual skills, strengthened nurse–family relationships ( Dorell, Östlund, & Sundin, 2016 ; Duhamel, Dupuis, Reidy, & Nadon, 2007 ; Voltelen, Konradsen, & Østergaard, 2016 ), as well as cost-effectiveness ( Lämås, Sundin, Jacobsson, Saveman, & Östlund, 2016 ). Family-centered nursing interventions can alleviate suffering and are psychologically empowering for the families ( Benzein, Olin, & Persson, 2015 ; Dorell, Bäckström et al., 2016 ; Dorell, Isaksson, Östlund, & Sundin, 2017 ; Östlund, Bäckström, Saveman, Lindh, & Sundin, 2016 ; Sundin et al., 2016 ). In view of the central role families play in HF care and self-care to improve health outcomes (K. Årestedt et al., 2013 ; Strömberg, 2013 ), it is essential to prepare RNs for the challenges and opportunities of involving families and to provide appropriate support.…”

Envisioning the future as expressed within family health conversations by families of persons suffering from stroke

“…Also, previous studies have shown that families participating in FamHC have improved insight, understanding and communication. Thus, negative feelings could be expressed openly and reflected upon within the family (17,(31)(32)(33)(34)(35). Also, a study by Sundin et al (36) shows that family members share their beliefs and talk about serious issues.…”

Nurses’ perceptions about a web‐based learning intervention concerning supportive family conversations in home health care

“…When viewing the family from a systemic approach, a patient should not be considered isolated, but instead as a part of a system where all the family members’ behaviours and beliefs affect each other. A variety of practices based on FSN have been scientifically evaluated with positive outcomes on family health and well‐being in different healthcare contexts both in Sweden (e.g., Benzein, Olin, & Persson, ; Persson & Benzein, ; Sundin et al, ) and internationally (e.g., Duhamel, Dupuis, Turcotte, Martinez, & Goudreau, ; Sveinbjarnardottir, Svavarsdottir, & Wright, ).…”