A Study To Assess Nurses Attitude and Parental Satisfaction Regarding Family Involvement in Child Care in Pediatric Units of Selected Hospitals At Sangli, Miraj, and Kupwad Corporation Area

Abstract

Background: Family involvement is an important component of family-centered pediatric care. Parents provide emotional support, information about the child, and assistance during hospitalization. Nurses’ attitudes and nurse-parent communication may influence how effectively families participate in child care.¹

To assess nurses’ attitude and parental satisfaction regarding family involvement in child care and to determine their association with selected demographic variables.

Methods: A quantitative, non-experimental descriptive design was adopted in selected pediatric hospitals in the Sangli, Miraj, and Kupwad Corporation Area. The final study included 100 staff nurses and 100 parents selected by purposive sampling. A structured 3-point rating scale assessed nurses’ attitude across physical, psychological, spiritual, economic assistance, nurse-parent relationship, and communication domains. A 20-item 3-point rating scale assessed parental satisfaction. Content validity was established by 22 experts. Reliability of both scales was reported as r=0.80. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used, with significance set at p<0.05.

Results: All nurses (100%) demonstrated a positive overall attitude towards family involvement. Nurses showed particularly favourable responses regarding the psychological benefits of family presence and nurse-parent relationships, although concerns were identified regarding disturbance of care, conflicts, economic effects, and communication barriers. Among parents, 45% were satisfied and 55% were neutral; none were dissatisfied. Nurses’ attitude was significantly associated with educational qualification (χ²=9.24, p=0.026) and years of experience (χ²=10.57, p=0.014), but not with age or gender. Parental satisfaction was significantly associated with gender (χ²=15.471, p<0.001), relationship to child (χ²=17.428, p=0.001), occupation (χ²=21.129, p<0.001), type of family (χ²=9.647, p=0.002), residence (χ²=18.568, p<0.001), and previous hospitalizations (χ²=11.422, p=0.010). No significant association was found with age, education, monthly income, or duration of hospital stay.

Conclusion: Nurses demonstrated strong acceptance of family involvement, whereas parental satisfaction was predominantly neutral. Structured family-centered care, clear communication, role clarification, parent education, and institutional support are recommended to strengthen meaningful family participation in pediatric care.