Introduction: Admission of a sick child in pediatric intensive care unit causes stress and it can put burden on the whole family. Family centered care is an innovative construct that focuses on partnership between patient, family and healthcare workers, with intention of emphatetic, effective and quality healthcare. It's implementation in the clinical environment remains a challenge. Purpose of this diploma work is to study how elements of family centered care are implemented in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units in Slovenia. Methods: We used a descriptive method with a review of scientific and professional literature in Slovenian and English language. We used a quantitative research method. In the empirical part data was collected using a structured questionnaire, which was taken from the already tested foreign questionnaire by Insitute for family centered care (Patient- and family-centered pediatric intensive care: a self-assessment inventory). Online surveying was done using online tool EnKlikAnketa. Sample consisted of 122 parents. We statistically analysed data using computer programme SPSS, version 20.0, Windows. Data were analysed using Hi-square test and Pearson correlation coefficient. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire was verified by Cronbach alpha coefficient. Results: Policy of the units restrict 24 hour presence of the parents with the child. Parents are satisfied with the level of communication, but they wish to be informed better. Most od the parents had an oppurtunity to be involved in the care for their child. Parents find the most important concept to be sharing information and the least important concept to be collaboration – it is also the least represented concept in the clinical environment. Older parents find it less important to have financial support, but they think privacy is important more. Parents with a higher level of education find it more important to be with their child, they value timely communication and being able to express their worries. Parents who have more children find it less important, that fathers are treated equally. In the past three years less parents knew if they had an opportunity to work with a psychologist and/or social worker. Less parents knew if healthy children or other healthy family members were able to visit their hospitalised child. Discussion and conclusion: Elements of family centered care are implemented inconsistently in Slovenian pediatric intensive care units. Parents find it important, that during hospitalization of the child, the principles of family centered care are included. There is a prioritising need for education of healthcare workers and further research.
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