Parent and staff perceptions of family-centred care in two Australian children's hospitals

Aim: This paper is a report of the comparison of perceptions of family-centred care by hospital staff (nurses, doctors and allied health staff) and parents of hospitalised children in 2 Australian tertiary paediatric hospitals.Background: Family-centred care is an accepted approach to caring for children and their families in hospital. Previous publications have been inconsistent, ranging from promoting its benefits and integration into practice, reporting operational difficulties and proposing that family-centred care may not be working at all. An evaluation of the model of care is long overdue.Method: A quantitative comparative cross-sectional survey was used to collect data in 2010 from a convenience sample of 309 parents of hospitalised children and 519 staff. Participants rated 20 items grouped into 3 subscales of respect, collaboration and support.Findings: Both parents and staff responses were positive and parents had significantly higher subscale scores for respect, collaboration and support (all p