Journal of Nursing and Health Studies

Evaluating a new admission model to improve the experience of parental caregivers in the ortho-pediatric setting

6^th International Conference on Advance Nursing Practice
June 21-22, 2018 Paris, France

Weiwen Wang and Yanjun Zhao

University of Pittsburgh, USA Shanghai Xinhua Hospital, China

Keynote: J Nurs Health Stud

DOI: 10.21767/2574-2825-C3-007

Abstract

Childhood limb fractures are a cause of concern for parental caregivers; moreover, the stress, anxiety, and unstable psychological states related to these fractures can negatively influence the outcomes of pediatric patients. We evaluated the implementation of a new admission model that features coordinated, continuous, and family-centered care to promote the positive psychological state of the parental caregivers. In addition, we explored the characterization of factors associated with successful family communication in the ortho-pediatric setting. Methods: Using a descriptive, qualitative design, parents of children with limb fractures were randomly assigned to either the interventional group (n = 92) or the control group (n = 100). We surveyed the parental caregivers in both groups using a self-designed demographic questionnaire and the symptom checklist 90-revised (SCL-90-R) self-rating symptom assessment, at both admission and discharge. Results: Most parental caregivers in our sample who experienced the new admission model reported that they not only felt supported, but also benefitted from the continuous education provided by the healthcare professionals. Moreover, these parents reported that the open communication they experienced and the knowledge they gained helped ameliorate some of their unstable psychological status. Although the self-reported SCL90-R for symptoms related to various psychological states demonstrated no statistically significant differences between the two groups upon admission, SCL90-R mean scores did exhibit statistically significant differences for the intervention group vis-a-vis somatization, obsessivecompulsive symptoms, depression, anxiety, hostility, and paranoia. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that the new admission model for parental caregivers of children with limb fractures can enhance the experiences of these caregivers as their children transition from care preparation to discharge. Nevertheless, the new model requires further development to tailor its support to better meet the specific needs of caregivers and children.
 

Biography

Weiwen Wang has completed her DNP from University of Pittsburgh on 2012. She has been a Nursing Educator and Medical-Surgical Practitioner in China and USA for over 28 years. She has five publications in Peer-reviewed journals and is actively involved with professional organizations such as the Asian American Pacific Islander Nurses Association (AAPINA), the American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA), and the Western PA ANIA Chapter. She is a reviewer for Nursing Education Today; Computers, Informatics, Nursing; and the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
Email:weiwen@pitt.edu