Family meetings--a qualitative exploration of improving care planning with older people and their families.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the opinions of participants in family meetings to improve the quality of this important rehabilitation tool.


METHODS
Qualitative exploration of opinions and experience from staff, patients and families.


METHODS
Tertiary teaching geriatric rehabilitation hospital.


METHODS
Staff, families and patients who had recently participated in family meetings.


METHODS
Focus groups, written surveys and individual semi-structured interviews.


RESULTS
Three main themes were identified in the staff focus groups-preparation, staff skills and aftermath. Opinions from family members revealed a high level of satisfaction. The patient interviews revealed a worrying lack of informed consent and lack of clarity of the purpose. All three groups identified an unclear agenda as the underlying reason for unsatisfactory meetings. An unfavourable outcome decision (such as placement in institutional care) also influenced patient opinions on the process. The majority of patients found the family meeting to be helpful.


CONCLUSIONS
Family meetings are much appreciated by patients and their families. A model of the family meeting process is proposed to account for our research findings and as a means to improve meetings. Adequate preparation and consent, and skilled facilitation may improve the effectiveness of family meetings while maintaining the patient's sense of autonomy.
Griffith
Jacqueline C
JC
Older Persons Health, Princess Margaret Hospital, Canterbury District Health Board, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Brosnan
Margaret
M
Lacey
Kathleen
K
Keeling
Sally
S
Wilkinson
Tim J
TJ
D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers; D005190:Family; D017144:Focus Groups; D006126:Group Processes; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D017146:Models, Organizational; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires