Understanding of 'person-centred care' in an oncology ICU: Associative group analysis.

PURPOSE

To describe how healthcare professionals, patients, and their significant others understand the concept of 'person-centred care' in an oncology ICU.

METHODS

This study followed the associative group analysis (AGA) method, a quali-quantitative research approach.The population included healthcare professionals, their patients, and significant others in a four-bed oncology adult intensive care unit. Whole population sampling (n = 22) allowed all healthcare professionals to participate. Maximum variation purposive sampling was used to identify patients and their significant others (n = 22). Data were collected during either face-to-face or telephonic individual interviews. Free associations were weighted using a validated weighting system. Words with similar meanings were then grouped into themes. The themes were then deductively grouped according to the domains of the Person-centred Practice Framework.

RESULTS

Participants had a limited understanding of person-centred care and could only identify six of the 23 constructs of the Person-centred Practice Framework. Healthcare professionals embraced the idea of person-centred care, but their understanding of the concept remains vague. Person-centred care remains conceptual in this oncology intensive care unit because the interpretation and operationalisation of the concept are misaligned at various health service levels.

CONCLUSION

Organisations should invest in work-based learning to enable staff to understand the concept of person-centred care. Healthcare workers also need to self-evaluate how they work and be able to adjust their working style to be more person-centred.