The Factors Affecting Nurses’ Perception of Their Roles Towards Family Caregivers of Patients in Intensive Care Units and Their Active Participation in Patient Care

Background & Aims Given the importance of the role of family caregivers in completing the treatment and care process, it is necessary to investigate the factors related to the participation of family caregivers of patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs). The present study aimed to identify the factors affecting nurses’ perceptions of their roles towards family caregivers of ICU patients and their active participation in patient care. Materials & Methods This is a cross-sectional study conducted from December 2023 to October 2024 on 150 nurses working in the ICUs of hospitals affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected using a demographic form, Hickey & Lewandowski’s questionnaire to examine nurses’ role with family caregivers, and the questionnaire on factors that influence family engagement (QFIFE). Data analysis was performed in SPSS v.16 software. Results The nurses had a mean age of 34.6±7.88 and were mostly female (77.3%). The mean score of nurses’ perceptions of their role was 40.79 ± 6.87 (a moderate perception). Nurses’ perceptions were significantly different based on family caregivers’ level of participation in patient care (P=0.004). Also, the nurses’ perceptions had a significant positive correlation with age (P=0.004) and nursing work experience (P=0.015). The QFIFE score had a significant negative correlation with the nursing activities score (P=0.028). Conclusion The ICU nurses in Tehran have a moderate perception of their roles towards family caregivers. Therefore, they need more motivation and training to improve their perception and meet family needs. Nursing managers and hospital officials, in addition to providing the opportunity for the engagement of families in patient care and offering communication training programs for nurses, should provide the basis for providing family-centered care.