Staff engagement during complex pediatric medical care: the role of patient, family, and treatment variables. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • OBJECTIVE: To examine the role of patient, family, and treatment variables on self-reported engagement for physicians and nurses working with pediatric complex care patients. METHODS: Sixty-eight physicians and 85 registered nurses at a children's hospital reviewed eight case scenarios that varied by the patient and patient's family (each cooperative versus difficult) and the length of hospitalization (<30 days versus >30 days). Participants rated their engagement from highly engaged/responsive to distancing/disconnected behaviors. RESULTS: Nurses were more likely than physicians to engage in situations with a difficult patient/cooperative family but less likely to engage in situations with a cooperative patient/difficult family.Nurses were more likely to consult a colleague regarding the care of a difficult patient/difficult family,while physicians were more likely to refer a difficult patient/difficult family to a psychosocial professional. CONCLUSIONS: Differences were found for engagement with "difficult" patients/families, with physicians more likely to distance themselves or refer to a psychosocial professional, while nurses were more likely to consult with a colleague. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Communication between health care team members is essential for optimal family-centered health care. Thus, interventions are needed that focus on communication and support for healthcare teams working with pediatric complex care patients and their families.

publication date

  • January 1, 2009

Research

keywords

  • Child, Hospitalized
  • Family
  • Medical Staff, Hospital
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital
  • Professional Role
  • Professional-Family Relations

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC2775508

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 56949100085

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.pec.2008.07.051

PubMed ID

  • 19209401

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 74

issue

  • 1