Should We Call You Mom and Dad? Caregiver Preferences and Pediatric Physician and Nurse Manner in Greetings

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated whether caregivers preferred to be called "Mom" and "Dad" or by name in the inpatient pediatric setting and how often caregivers reported that residents, attending physicians, and nurses greeted them as they preferred. METHODS: We measured caregivers' greeting preferences and perceptions of how residents, attending physicians, and nurses greeted them by surveying caregivers on 1 unit at a large urban children's hospital from October 2017 to April 2018. The 27-item survey consisted of multiple choice, Likert scale, and demographic measures. A member of the study team enrolled caregivers at the patient's bedside to complete the written survey anonymously. RESULTS: A total of 114 caregivers completed the survey (51% of 223 enrolled caregivers); 63% (95% confidence interval [CI] 53%-74%) of mothers and 57% (95% CI 36%-77%) of fathers preferred to be greeted as Mom and Dad, respectively; the rest preferred greetings by name. Caregiver preferences did not significantly vary on the basis of relationship to the child (mother or father), age, race, or education level (P. .05). Caregivers reported that 48% (95% CI 35%-62%) of residents, 43% (95% CI 29%-57%) of attending physicians, and 63% (95% CI 49%-75%) of nurses always or usually addressed them as they preferred. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately half of mothers and fathers preferred to be called Mom and Dad, respectively, whereas the rest preferred to be greeted by name. Caregiver preferences did not differ on the basis of demographics. Caregivers reported that residents, attending physicians, and nurses were inconsistent in following their greeting preferences.

Enhancing Residents' Warmth in Greeting Caregivers: An Inpatient Intervention to Improve Family-Centered Communication

“…We have previously reported that about 50% of parents of admitted children prefer to be called by "Mom" or "Dad" by inpatient physicians, whereas the other 50% prefer to be called by their names. 16 The "We Care Team Board" displays the caregivers' preferred names and helps to ensure that all providers-regardless of whether they specifically ask caregivers about their greeting preferences-can easily address caregivers as they prefer, thus upholding family-centered values. 27 The method is efficient, since care team members have to only glance at the board as they walk into the room to then greet caregivers appropriately.…”

“…In a previous study, we found that only about 50% of caregivers reported that inpatient providers "always" or "usually" called them the name/title they preferred during their child's hospitalization. 16 The goal of this study was to improve the quality of greetings of resident providers and increase the frequency by which they address caregivers by their preferred name. We used the model for improvement framework, a standard method for conducting and analyzing quality improvement (QI) projects.…”

“…In a previous study, we found that only about 50% of caregivers reported that inpatient providers “always” or “usually” called them the name/title they preferred during their child's hospitalization. 16…”