Patients' Perceptions of Emotional Support and Information Provided to Family Members

Majasaari, Hilkka; Sarajärvi, Anneli; Koskinen, Helena; Autere, Sinikka; Paavilainen, Eija

doi:10.1016/S0001-2092(06)60469-9

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Volume 81, Issue 5 , Pages 1030-1039, May 2005

Patients' Perceptions of Emotional Support and Information Provided to Family Members

Hilkka Majasaari, RN
- Hilkka Majasaari, RN, MSc, is A senior lecturer at the School of Health Care and Social Work, Seinäjoki Polytechnic, Seinäjoki, Finland.
Anneli Sarajärvi, RN
- Anneli Sarajärvi, RN, PhD, is A principal lecturer at Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia, Helsinki, Finland.
Helena Koskinen, RN
- Helena Koskinen, RN, MSc, is A vice director at the School of Health Care and Social Work, Seinäjoki Polytechnic, Seinäjoki, Finland.
Sinikka Autere, RN
- Sinikka Autere, RN, is A quality manager and director of nursing at Seinäjoki Central Hospital, South Ostrobothnia Hospital District, Seinäjoki, Finland.
Eija Paavilainen, RN
- Eija Paavilainen, RN, PhD, is A professor in the Department of Nursing Science, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland, and South Ostrobothnia Hospital District, Seinäjoki, Finland.

ABSTRACT

•THE PURPOSE OF THIS QUALITY improvement project was to determine patients' perceptions of the emotional support and information provided to their family members by nurses in a day surgery setting.

•THE PROJECT WAS CONDUCTED in a day surgery unit of a hospital in western Finland. Data were collected from 60 participants using a questionnaire designed specifically for the project.

•THE RESULTS SHOWED that half of the patients appreciated the presence of their family members during hospital care. The emotional support provided to family members was rated as moderate, and more than 50% of the patients believed their family members were adequately informed. The results were used to help develop tools for patient and family member education. AORN J 81 (May 2005) 1030–1039.