[Renal transplanted adolescents' perception of the relationship to the interdisciplinary health care team]

Pflege. 2009 Aug;22(4):287-96. doi: 10.1024/1012-5302.22.4.287.
[Article in German]

Abstract

Various studies have demonstrated that the experience of a supportive relationship improves adherence of chronically ill adolescents. Their experience of the professional relationship in the context of the interdisciplinary treatment setting is still rarely investigated. The aim of this descriptive cross-sectional study in adolescents with renal transplant was to explore how they experience the relationship to the exponents of the different professionals of the health care team. Twenty-seven adolescents, aged 12 to 18, years were investigated by the Family System Test (FAST). The analysis showed that to them, both the pediatric-nephrological specialized nurses and the doctors are attachment figures in a comparable manner. The emotional relationship to the nurses was stronger, whereas in their behavior decisions the influence of the doctors was more pronounced. The adolescents' wish is an equally friendly-professional, yet low hierarchical relationship. These results demonstrated that the patient group specialized primary nursing concept established at the Zurich University Children's Hospital is approved and that interdisciplinarity is important for the care of chronically ill adolescents.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Cooperative Behavior*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interdisciplinary Communication*
  • Kidney Transplantation / nursing*
  • Kidney Transplantation / psychology
  • Male
  • Nurse-Patient Relations*
  • Object Attachment
  • Patient Care Team*
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Physician-Patient Relations
  • Psychological Distance
  • Social Support