An Exploration of Family Centred Care (FCC) in UK Inpatient Wards
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot listed
Trial typeObservational
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorMilton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
About this trial
This qualitative study will explore how family-centred care is understood and experienced in adult inpatient medical wards in the UK. Family-centred care involves including a patient's family in care and discussions where appropriate. Although family involvement can improve communication, emotional support and shared decision-making, it may also create ethical challenges where family wishes differ from the patient's preferences or clinical judgement.
The study will recruit 30 adults at Milton Keynes University Hospital: 10 patients admitted to an internal medicine ward, 10 family members of patients admitted to an internal medicine ward and 10 registered nurses working on an internal medicine ward. Each participant will take part in one semi-structured interview lasting approximately 30-60 minutes, conducted face to face, by telephone or by video call.
The study is based on the expectation that patients, family members and nurses may experience family involvement differently, and that cultural values may influence how family-centred care is applied in practice. The interviews will explore issues including privacy, informed consent, patient autonomy and decision-making. The UK findings will also be compared with findings from an identical study being conducted in Israel to examine how cultural and value-based contexts may affect family involvement in hospital care.
The findings may help identify practical communication approaches for delivering culturally sensitive family-centred care while protecting patients' rights and supporting nurses' professional responsibilities.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
A patient admitted to an internal medicine ward
A family member of a patient admitted to an internal medicine ward
A registered nurse working on an internal medicine ward
Disqualifiers
Are under 18 years of age
Are unable to provide informed consent
Are unable to participate in study interviews (e.g., due to cognitive, linguistic, or medical limitations)
Trial population
Participants will be selected from adult inpatient medical wards at Milton Keynes University Hospital. The study population will comprise 3 groups: patients receiving inpatient medical care, family members involved in the care of patients admitted to these wards, and registered nurses working within the same clinical setting. Participants will be recruited using purposive sampling to obtain relevant perspectives on family involvement in inpatient care, nursing practice and associated ethical and cultural issues. Recruitment will take place through clinical teams, nursing leads and study advertisements displayed in relevant patient and staff areas.
Trial design
Design model
Other
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Treatments tested in this trial
Semi-structured qualitative interview
Other interventionEach participant will complete one individual semi-structured interview lasting approximately 30-60 minutes. Interviews will be conducted face to face, by telephone or by video call according to participant preference. Open-ended questions will explore experiences and views of family involvement in inpatient care, including issues relating to privacy, informed consent, patient autonomy and decision-making. With consent, interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Participants may decline to answer any question or stop the interview at any time.
Treatment groups
30 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groupsGroup A: Patients1 intervention
Group B: Carers1 intervention
Group C: Professionals1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Themes Describing Experiences and Perceptions of Family Involvement in Inpatient Care
Semi-structured interview transcripts will be analysed thematically using the Braun and Clarke framework. Themes and subthemes will describe how patients, family members and registered nurses perceive and experience family involvement in inpatient care, including the family's role, the perceived benefits and challenges of involvement, involvement in care and decision-making, and responses from nursing staff. This is a qualitative outcome and no numerical scale or score will be used.
Time frame
At the participant's single study interview following enrolment. The interview timing relative to the relevant inpatient episode is not prespecified.Secondary outcomes
1
Themes Describing Ethical Tensions Associated With Family Involvement in Inpatient Care
Interview transcripts will be analysed to identify themes and subthemes concerning ethical tensions associated with family involvement. These may include patient autonomy, confidentiality, privacy, justice, patient welfare, professional decision-making and situations where family or cultural expectations conflict with the patient's wishes, professional ethics or the needs of the ward.
Time frame
At the participant's single study interview following enrolment. The interview timing relative to the relevant inpatient episode is not prespecified.2
Themes Describing Cultural Influences on Expectations of Family Involvement
Interview transcripts will be analysed to identify themes and subthemes describing how cultural background and values influence expectations regarding the family's role, participation in care, communication with healthcare professionals and involvement in decision-making.
Time frame
At the participant's single study interview following enrolment. The interview timing relative to the relevant inpatient episode is not prespecified.3
Themes Describing Nursing Communication and Management of Family Involvement
Interview transcripts will be analysed to identify themes and subthemes concerning how nurses respond to family involvement, manage conflict between professional and cultural values, communicate with patients and families, and mediate between professional responsibilities and the patient's cultural or family context.
Time frame
At the participant's single study interview following enrolment. The interview timing relative to the relevant inpatient episode is not prespecified.Sponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov