Attitudes and beliefs about family presence in critical care

Abstract

Family-centered care within a critical care environment strives to meet the needs of patients and their families and includes the need for information, support and the ability to be physically close to the patient. Paediatric critical care health care providers (HCPs) and emergency nurses are leading the way in family involvement with protocols for family presence. The nature of critical care areas sees patients and their families confronted with invasive procedures and at times, resuscitation interventions. The term “family presence” in Duran et al.'s article refers to families' attendance during invasive and resuscitation procedures.

The purpose of Duran et al.'s study “ …was to describe and compare the attitudes towards and beliefs about family presence of healthcare providers, patients' family members, and patients regardless of previous experience with family presence.” (p. 273).