Family-Centered Care from the Point of View of Undergraduate Nursing Students Studying in Selected Public Universities: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The concept of family-centered care (FCC) is central to the care model and is an essential core principle of pediatric nursing. Objectives: This study aimed to assess undergraduate nursing students' perceptions of FCC in selected government universities and examine differences in nursing students' perceptions of FCC based on gender and academic level. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used, involving 124 eligible students. Data were collected using a validated Family-Centered Care Questionnaire (FCCQ), which had a Cronbach’s alpha score of 0.90. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 25 was employed for data analysis, specifically for calculating means, standard deviations (SDs), frequencies, percentages, and conducting independent t-tests. Results: The overall mean score of perceptions was 3.35 ± 0.76. The "Family is the constant" dimension had the highest score (3.45 ± 0.91), while the "Developmental needs" dimension had the lowest score (3.26 ± 0.95). There was a significant difference in perceptions of FCC between male and female students (t = -5.291, P < 0.001) and between third- and fourth-year students (t = 7.345, P < 0.001). Conclusions: It can be concluded that undergraduate nursing students had modest perceptions of FCC, and there was a significant difference in these perceptions based on gender and academic level. This study provides valuable insight into FCC, which can inform policy design and interventions in nursing education in Jordan. An educational program is recommended to improve undergraduate nursing students' perceptions of FCC.