Raghad Abdelkader, Inaam Khalaf, Suha Kridli, Diana Arabiat, Intima Alrimawi
Background: Parents' participation in their child’s care has been recognized as a key component to develop a satisfying experience for parents of a hospitalized child. However, studies suggested that parents’ participation in care is under searched for nonwestern societies.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure activities performed by parents in caring for their hospitalized child, as well as to evaluate parents’ actual participation level at the pediatric settings in Jordan.
Method: A descriptive study with a convenient sample of 294 parents, most of whom were mothers, completed the Arabic version of the Index of Parent Participation/ Hospitalized Child and a socio-demographic form at four major hospitals in Amman.
Results: Results revealed that parents have moderate mean score of actual participation in their child’s care. Domains of participation were limited to activities of daily living and providing comfort, and less for activities related with advocating and providing technical care. While parents were willing to participate in care, some parents felt they had to perform some aspects of care. These activities are described and discussed within the context of Jordan’s health care system.
Conclusion and implication for nursing and health policy: New approaches to promote a partnership between parents and other health care professionals are needed. Nurses need to better understand parents’ expectation or desired level of participation and support them at the level they are most comfortable with.
