The importance of families in nursing care: attitudes of nurses in the Netherlands

Abstract

Introduction Positive attitudes towards family involvement in nursing care are essential for improving the involvement of and collaboration with patients’ families. The aim of this study is to explore nurses’ attitudes towards the importance of families in nursing care. Method Using a cross‐sectional design, hospital and homecare nurses completed the Families Importance to Nursing Care (FINC‐NA) scale, Dutch language version, consisting of four subscales. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analyses. Results A total of 426 hospital and homecare nurses were eligible for analysis (mean (SD) age 42 years (13), 93% female). The mean (SD) attitude of nurses was 63.8 (12) (100‐point scale) on the FINC‐NA. Less than half of the nurses (44%) considered family as a collaboration partner, and 37% of nurses stated that families should be invited to actively participate in planning patient care. The nurses’ attitudes were explained by years of work experience in nursing, work setting and existing policy regarding families in patient care. Conclusion This study identifies areas of improvement regarding to nurses’ attitudes towards the importance of families in nursing care in order to establish a more family‐focused approach in nursing care. Nursing policies should facilitate working with families as part of regular nursing processes. Furthermore, the importance of family involvement in care should be an explicit matter of concern for nursing educational institutions and for policy making within healthcare organisations.

Nurses’ Attitudes Toward the Importance of Families in Nursing Care: A Multinational Comparative Study

“…In this study, the education level was not a significant predictor of nurses’ attitudes toward family importance in nursing care. While this finding is consistent with previous research (Hoplock et al, 2019; Linnarsson et al, 2014), other studies reported an association between higher education level and more positive attitudes (Gusdal et al, 2017; Hagedoorn et al, 2020; Luttik et al, 2017; Østergaard et al, 2020; Sveinbjarnardottir et al, 2011). However, we assessed education based on the first professional training requirement in nursing (diploma or bachelor’s degree) and a higher level of postgraduate education (e.g., master’s, PhD) and the requirements for basic licensure varied across countries.…”

“…Studies comparing hospital settings with home care or primary health care have been mixed. Researchers have found that nurses working in home care (Hagedoorn et al, 2020) or primary health care (Benzein, Johansson, Arestedt, & Saveman, 2008; Gusdal et al, 2017; Hagedoorn et al, 2020; Østergaard et al, 2020) reported more positive attitudes than those working in hospitals. However, Hoplock et al (2019) reported no differences in nurses’ attitudes among hospital and home care settings.…”

“…Recent literature provides some evidence that nurses’ attitudes vary based on individual characteristics. In general, nurses who expressed more positive attitudes toward family importance in nursing care are older (Blondal et al, 2014; Østergaard et al, 2020); female (Linnarsson et al, 2014; Sveinbjarnardottir et al, 2011); have higher education levels (e.g., master’s or doctorate degree; Hagedoorn et al, 2020; Luttik et al, 2017; Østergaard et al, 2020); have more clinical experience (e.g., more than 7 years’ experience; Blondal et al, 2014; Hagedoorn et al, 2020; Østergaard et al, 2020); have had a seriously ill family member in need of professional care (Benzein, Johansson, Arestedt, & Saveman, 2008; Hsiao & Tsai, 2015; Linnarsson et al, 2014; Østergaard et al, 2020; Sveinbjarnardottir et al, 2011); and are employed in a workplace with a general approach to the care of families (i.e., the health care organization has a general philosophy in place about the care of families; Benzein, Johansson, Arestedt, & Saveman, 2008; Gusdal et al, 2017; Hoplock et al, 2019).…”

“…Nurses’ attitudes toward involving families in care have been studied in various health care settings and/or specialties (Benzein, Johansson, Arestedt, & Saveman, 2008), for example, hospital/acute care (Blondal et al, 2014; Linnarsson et al, 2014); primary care (Oliveira et al, 2011); cardiovascular care (Gusdal et al, 2017; Luttik et al, 2017); psychiatric/mental health care (Hsiao & Tsai, 2015; Sveinbjarnardottir et al, 2011); and pediatric care (Oh et al, 2018). Studies including more than one country (Luttik et al, 2017) or more than one health care setting in their sample have reported variation in nurses’ attitudes toward family importance in care (Benzein, Johansson, Arestedt, & Saveman, 2008; Gusdal et al, 2017; Hagedoorn et al, 2020; Hsiao & Tsai, 2015; Luttik et al, 2017; Østergaard et al, 2020). Luttik et al (2017) found that nurses living in Scandinavia had more positive attitudes than nurses working in Belgium.…”

“…Luttik et al (2017) found that nurses living in Scandinavia had more positive attitudes than nurses working in Belgium. Studies have also reported that hospital nurses had less supportive attitudes than nurses in primary health care (Benzein, Johansson, Arestedt, & Saveman, 2008; Gusdal et al, 2017; Hagedoorn et al, 2020; Østergaard et al, 2020) or home care (Hagedoorn et al, 2020). However, in a Canadian study, Hoplock et al (2019) found no statistically significant differences in attitudes between hospital nurses and home visiting nurses.…”