EFFECT OF FAMILY CENTERED CARE BASED INTERVENTION ON IMPROVING QUALITY OF CHILDREN'S LIFE WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASES

Abstract Background: Family centered care (FCC) is a holistic approach for planning, delivering, and evaluating mutually beneficial partnerships among families and healthcare providers. Children with chronic kidney diseases (CKD) have elevated health care needs and often experience physical, emotional, and social difficulties which negatively affect their quality of life. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of family-centered care-based intervention on improving quality of children’s life with chronic kidney diseases. Research design: A quasi-experimental research design was utilized in this study. Setting: This study was conducted at pediatric inpatient and outpatient departments affiliated to Suez Canal University Hospital and General Ismailia Hospital, affiliated to Comprehensive Health Insurance/Egypt. Sample: Non probability convenience sample involved 45 children suffering from CKD of both gender, aged between 1-18 years (with the exclusion of children suffering from other chronic illness, either medical or mental). All available family caregivers accompanying their children were involved regardless of their characteristics. Tool (1) The pre designed questionnaire, (2) the index of family caregivers’ participation, (3) observational checklist, (4) quality of life scale and the family centered care scale were used pre/post FCC based intervention. Results: There was a highly statistically significant relation (P<0.001) between the core concept of family centered care of the studied family caregivers and the total QoL of their children post family centered care based intervention. Conclusion: The family centered care intervention had a positive effect on improving the quality of life of children with chronic kidney diseases. Recommendation: Include family centered care approach in care of children suffering from CKD.