Exploring Factors Influencing Transcultural Caring Relationships in the Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Setting: An Explorative Study

ABSTRACT

In the literature, there is evidence about the importance of ensuring a Family-Centered approach for foreign patients to provide culturally competent care. The Italian context shows a lack of studies concerning nurses’ perceptions regarding factors that influence foreign patients’ daily care. In addition, the number of pediatric patients coming to Italian hospitals to be cured has increased dramatically in the last few years. This study aims to investigate the pediatric nurses’ perception of the factors influencing nursing care for foreign pediatric patients who have undergone a stem cell transplant (SCT) and their families. A qualitative approach is used. Semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using qualitative techniques for recurrent themes. Italian SCT pediatric nurses were interviewed until data saturation was achieved. Four themes emerged from the analysis: ‘‘Respect for other cultural traditions,’’ ‘‘Different roles,’’ ‘‘Communication,’’ ‘‘Equal treatment and different opportunities.’’ Communication was seen as a barrier in caring for foreign patients. Nurses perceived a lack in their training and knowledge when caring for foreign patients. The hospital supports nurses when caring for foreign patients. We found that pediatric nurses do not feel they are caring for foreign patients in the same way as they do for Italians, but adopt strategies to improve their relationships with them. Semi-structured interviews proved to be useful in highlighting the nurses’ perceptions. These data were confirmed by the results of the audit conducted with the ‘‘Children and Young People’s Audit Policy Tool,’’ The tool suggests specific interventions when foreign patients are admitted.

KEYWORDS:

• Communication
• pediatric patient
• stem cell transplant
• transcultural nursing

Acknowledgments

The Authors thank the Pediatric Nurses of the SCT Transplant Unit, Outpatient Clinic and Home care of the Department of Hematology and Oncology—Giannina Gaslini Children’s Hospital (Genoa, Italy) for participating in the study.

We also thank Dr. Giuseppe Aleo MA, PhD, from the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Genoa for editing the English version of this paper.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.