Perceptions of Nurses Towards Participation of Cancer Patients and their Families in Nursing Care during Hospital Admissions - A Generic Qualitative Study

Abstract

Abstract English Title: Perceptions of nurses towards participation of cancer patients and their families in nursing care during hospital admissions – A Generic Qualitative Study. Background: Patient and family participation (PFP) is proven to be beneficial and is associated with better health outcomes. There are still knowledge gaps about how nurses should integrate PFP in nursing cancer care. Patients who receive cancer treatments go through a physically and mentally demanding time in the hospital while admitted, and could benefit greatly from being involved in care by nurses. This is not standard care, and views on participation are therefore sought in order to improve nursing cancer care. Aim: To explore perceptions of nurses towards participation of cancer patients and their families in nursing care during hospital admissions. Method: A generic qualitative design was used guided through face-to-face and telephone interviews. A purposeful sample of 11 nurses who provided care in two oncology wards of one peripheral hospital in the east of the Netherlands were interviewed. Transcribed interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The first theme Defining Participation showed that nurses did not know how to interpret PFP. Preconditions for normalizing Participation emerged as the second main theme, including the following subthemes: ensuring a privacy-based environment, preparing patients for participation, and nursing competencies, and were viewed as essential for PFP. Power and Control within Participation emerged as the third main theme and showed the complexity of participation with the following subthemes: struggling with structure, surrendering patients, and knowledge is power. Conclusions: The emerging themes enriched the existing literature relating to PFP in oncology. Guaranteeing the preconditions, utilize the meaning and importance of PFP for nurses, and bridging the factors which makes participation complex appears to be the first step to stimulate nurses to grow in providing PCC for letting PFs actively participate.