FAMILY INVOLVEMENT IN THE CARE OF HOSPITALIZED CHILD

Abstract

Background: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) states that children have the right to remain close and stay in contact with their parents. Parents should always consider what is best and share responsibility for bringing up their children. In Malaysia the research about the involvement of the family towards children's care is very rare. Therefore, this research is very important in order to improve family care in Malaysia.
Objectives: This study is
i. To identify family caregiver 's involvement during care of children admitted in hospital,
ii. To identify family's experiences when they encounter healthcare provider's behaviour
iii. To determine the relationshlp between family invorvementduring care and family's experience when they
encounter healthcare provider's behaviour towards the child care.
Method: A cross sectional study was conducted, using a questionnaire among 300 parents, who accompanied, stayed and was involved in the care of their children who were admitted in paediatric ward at Hospital Sungai Buloh, Hospital Selayang and Hospital TengkuAmpuan Rahimah.
Results: This study found that family involvement during care does not relate with family's experience when encountered with healthcare provider's behaviour towards the child care. Moreover, this study also shows that family are involved in the care of their hospitalized child. Besides that, caregivers are usually experienced indivisuals with good behaviour.
Conclusion: Families experience during the stay atthe hospital will influence their assessment of the health care system, their expectation and the ability to face the same situation in the future.