ABSTRACT
Introduction: Patient and family-centered care is a particularly important parameter in the performance of medical and nursing procedures, especially in the practice of pediatrics and neonatology. The purpose of the study is to investigate the perspectives of medical professionals as well as the bioethical complexities that are mentioned when parents are present during nursing and medical treatments in very severe medical conditions.
Methodology: The study is a quantitative investigation through a questionnaire. The sample of the study concerns medical and nursing staff residing in Greece, regardless of gender and age, with the main criterion for inclusion in the study being involved with minor patients. The survey tool was created from the beginning for the needs of the survey.
Results: Survey respondents report that related medical procedures may offend relatives, and especially medical and nursing staff in the different departments of the hospital seemed to agree to a higher degree compared to the medical and nursing staff of the pathology, pediatric and surgical departments. In the same question about insulting relatives, which is an important ethical dilemma when performing medico-nursing procedures on minor patients, employees with <5 years of experience were found to agree to a higher degree compared to employees with >6 years of experience. Finally, the presence of the parent is considered constructive by the graduates of University or Technological Education, who, however, were found to agree to a lower degree compared to the graduates of Secondary Education and the holders of Master’s – Doctorate Degrees.
Conclusions: Family presence is clearly becoming a more acceptable practice. The presence of parents can benefit both patients and the patients’ families themselves. Although perceived and actual barriers remain, creating a hospital family presence policy that addresses health care providers’ concerns and offers support for practice is important.
Key words: bioethical dilemmas, medical and nursing procedures, parental presence
