Discharge planning, family-centered care, and caregiver satisfaction in pediatric nursing in the Southwestern Region of Vietnam

Phi Hieu Vo, Maxima Floranda Lualhati — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Objective: To evaluate the status and relationships between discharge planning care, family-centered care, and caregiver satisfaction within the pediatric healthcare context at three general hospitals in the Southwestern region of Vietnam.

Methods: A descriptive–correlational study was conducted among 400 parent-caregivers of hospitalized children in three general hospitals. Data were collected using validated structured questionnaires, including a Discharge planning scale, a modified Family-Centered Care Assessment for Families, and a Caregiver satisfaction scale, all measured on a five-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and mediation analysis.

Results: Discharge planning was generally practiced (mean = 3.72), with lower performance in lifestyle-related guidance and provision of written educational materials. Family-centered care was moderately implemented (mean = 3.40), with notable gaps in shared decision-making and caregiver engagement. Caregiver satisfaction was relatively high (mean = 3.76), particularly in assessment and monitoring domains, although communication and education showed variability. Educational attainment was the only factor significantly associated with satisfaction (p = 0.038). Discharge planning was negatively associated with family-centered care (β = −0.266, p < 0.001), while neither discharge planning nor family-centered care showed a significant association with overall caregiver satisfaction. Mediation analysis indicated that family-centered care did not significantly mediate this relationship (p = 0.898).

Conclusion: Despite favorable satisfaction levels, family-centered care remains suboptimal and its role in linking discharge planning to caregiver outcomes appears limited. Strengthening structured discharge education and enhancing caregiver engagement through standardized family-centered care based protocols may improve pediatric care quality.

Tạp chí Khoa học Điều dưỡng

Discharge planning, family-centered care, and caregiver satisfaction in pediatric nursing in the Southwestern Region of Vietnam