A study of family care needs after pediatric congenital heart disease interventions based on the KANO model.

BACKGROUND

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common congenital conditions and has significant implications for patients and their families. Pediatric CHD interventions often involve complex care, requiring a detailed understanding of family care needs. The KANO model offers a systematic framework to classify and prioritize these needs, enhancing patient and family satisfaction. PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify and analyze the care service needs of families of pediatric CHD intervention patients via the KANO model. The focus was on classifying these needs into essential, expected, attractive, and undifferentiated attributes to guide nursing practices and improve care quality.

METHODS

A total of 160 pediatric CHD patients and their families treated between April 2019 and April 2022 were included in this study. A KANO-based questionnaire was developed through expert consultation and a literature review and addresses four dimensions: service attitudes, nursing technology, communication, and quality care. The data were analyzed via the KANO classification, satisfaction, and importance scoring.

RESULTS

The study identified 11 essential needs, 7 expected needs, 5 attractive needs, and 2 undifferentiated needs. The satisfaction ratings ranged from 0.13--0.84, and the importance ratings ranged from 0.19--0.82. Key findings include high importance but low satisfaction in areas such as "detailed explanation of treatment side effects" and "timely updates on patient condition," reflecting gaps in communication and technical knowledge. Attractive needs, such as"gentleness of speech," were found to significantly enhance family satisfaction when met.

CONCLUSION

Demand-oriented nursing strategies focusing on high-importance but low-satisfaction areas are critical for optimizing family care in pediatric CHD interventions. Enhancing communication skills, standardizing information delivery, and continuous professional development are essential steps. Addressing these needs will strengthen family trust, engagement, and overall care quality.