Proof-of-concept evaluation of EASE© family-focused education with undergraduate nursing students

Nearly a quarter of children worldwide have a parent with mental illness, with impacts on the entire family. Healthcare practitioners can help address the needs of these children and families through family-focused practice. The aim for this proof-of-concept evaluation was to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of a newly developed learning module on the family-focused EASE© (Engage, Assess, Support, Educate) framework, in an undergraduate nursing program. Changes in students' knowledge and confidence in family-focused practice were assessed as well as their overall views of the learning module. A pre/post-online survey was administered to students immediately prior to and 1 week following module delivery. Pre-surveys were completed by 805 students, with 556 (69%) completing post-surveys. Students reported significantly greater knowledge and confidence in working with families and using EASE©. Those who read the pre-reading and had prior experience of working in a mental health service had significantly greater levels of knowledge and confidence. Students with prior experience of working in family services also reported significantly more knowledge. In respect to feasibility, most students (85%) were satisfied with the module. In open-ended responses (n = 168), students described the EASE© framework as easy to understand and important to building confidence in family-focused practice. They acknowledged their limited understandings of child and family needs where parents have mental illness and made recommendations for further development of the module. The findings indicate potential for wider implementation of the EASE© family-focused module across undergraduate healthcare disciplines and development of attendant learning resources for healthcare practitioners.