| Author: | Ng, Wai-hing |
| Title: | Parental participation in the care of hospitalized child : the perceptions of the nurses in Hong Kong |
| Degree: | M.Sc. |
| Year: | 2006 |
| Subject: | Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations Sick children -- China -- Hong Kong -- Family relationships Children -- Hospital care -- China -- Hong Kong Parent and child -- China -- Hong Kong |
| Department: | School of Nursing |
| Pages: | v, 118 leaves ; 30 cm |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | Parental participation in the care of hospitalized child has been highly promoted in western countries. Although a Children's Charter in Hospital in Hong Kong emphasing the parental participation has been established, the practice of local situation, as well as that after the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has not been studied. After the outbreak of SARS, the Hospital Authority (HA) has implemented various infection precaution measures. Parents are prohibited to visit their children outside the visiting hours, aiming at preventing the spread of infectious diseases. It is suspected that there may have some changes in the nature and extent of parental participation after the outbreak of SARS. This study is to examine the attitude of Hong Kong nurses towards parental participation in the care of hospitalized child, the extent of care allowed for parental participation, the factors influencing nurses' decision on allowing parental participation, as well as the effects of SARS on the implementation of parental participation. Three hundreds and six eligible members of the Association of Hong Kong Nursing Staff, who are working in the paediatric general medical, surgical or isolation units of HA hospitals, and with the age of the paediatric patients ranged from one to twelve years old, were recruited as the participants of this study. A set of questionnaire, which consisted of five sections, was distributed to each participant by mail. Median differences in attitudes [in terms of Parent Participation Attitude Scale (PPAS) score] based on the demographic data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis test as appropriate. The distribution of responses in accordance with demographic data, and items of the extent of parental participation and that of factors influencing participants' decision on parental participation was analyzed by Chi-square test. Findings revealed that the Hong Kong nurses held a neutral to accepting attitude towards parental participation. The higher the current post and the longer the working experience in paediatric units of the participants, the more accepting attitudes towards parental participation of the participants (p < .05). Ever married participants had more accepting attitudes than never married participants (p < .05). They seemed to have set boundaries on the extent of care for parents to participate in the care of the hospitalized child. They were more willing to allow parents to participate some basic care which were the usual parental care, than those skill-related care. They also were less willing parents to stay with the child during traumatic procedures, resuscitation and last office. Various factors were found to influence nurses' decision for allowing parental participation, especially those organizational factors, child's and parents' factors. After the outbreak of SARS, some nurses have a change of attitudes towards parental participation, either from supporting to rejecting or vice versa. With an increased input on infection control, dilemma may be raised between the favor of family-centered care and the precaution on the risk of cross-infection. The results of this study provide information related to the incorporation of parental participation into current practice with infection precaution emphasized. Education program on communication skill and management of emotional unstable parents is recommended. Further studies on the effects of SARS on the implementation of parental participation with the consideration of infection control were suggested. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
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| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b18969380.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 4.43 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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