The role of family in care of surgical patient. A systematic review

ABSTRACT

Background: Family has a pivotal impact on the individuals’ health status and the society as well. Family involvement in care provision has been investigated in nursing literature.

Aim: To investigate family role in care provision to surgical patient.

Methodology: A review of the contemporary literature was conducted on the database PubMed/Medline and the search engine Google Scholar with the keywords: «family influence», «family role», «surgical patient» and «surgery». Data were extracted according to eligibility criteria, analyzed and synthesized.

Results: From the analysis of the results of the studies included it was found that the active family involvement contributes to the management of perioperative pain in pediatric patients, while, at the same time, ensures the follow up process and an effective communication with the health care professionals postoperatively. Among family members, spouses/husbands provide psychological support to the adult surgical patients and have a significant impact on the decision-making process regarding to the surgical procedures.

Conclusions: Family members support and enhance the decision making process related to surgical procedures of the adult surgical patients in the context of a partnership – the family act as a partner in surgical care provision. Moreover, the essential and active involvement of the family facilitates the care provided to pediatric surgical patients so the family acts as a facilitator in surgical care provision.

Keywords: Family, pediatric patient, surgical care, surgical patient, surgery