Parents' experiences of their child being admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit: a qualitative study–like being in another world.

Background: There is very little research on the parent's experiences of having a child admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit. Identifying and describing ‘such experiences’ could facilitate better parental support from the paediatric intensive care team and help the parents manage a stressful situation. Aims: This study aimed to describe parents' experiences of having their child admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 12 parents whose children had been admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit. A qualitative design was used, and the interviews were analysed based on content analysis. Result: The analysis revealed two categories: ‘being involved’ and ‘being informed’ with seven subcategories: ‘caring for the parents’, ‘security and trust’, ‘altering the parental role’, ‘stress and fear’, ‘the importance of knowing’, ‘interaction in the care process’ and ‘being prepared’. An overarching theme emerged: the experience was ‘like being in another world’. The study concludes that a child's admission to a paediatric intensive care unit is a stressful situation, and for the parents to be able to handle the anxiety and stress, they need to be informed of and involved in their child's care. Conclusions: The parents' experience when their child is admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit is fraught with a range of emotion and fear. There are indications that things such as good information, involvement and a positive experience of the transfer to the paediatric ward reduce the stress and anxiety associated with paediatric intensive care admission. The result of this study could be used as a basis for a post‐paediatric intensive care follow‐up service for the children and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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