The most important needs of parents of critically ill children: parents' perceptions

Research studies have identified the needs of relatives when they have had an adult family member in the intensive care unit. However little similar work has been done within the paediatric setting. Therefore the aim of this study was to examine what parents considered to be their most important needs, when they have a child ill in the intensive care environment (PICU). A questionnaire was designed, and was distributed to parents of 30 children admitted into a PICU. The questionnaire identified needs items which may be important to parents of sick children. The parents were required to indicate how important each need was to them during the time of the child's stay in the PICU. Results obtained indicate that parents have a strong need for information and relief of anxieties that they may have about their child's condition. A conclusion reached in this study is that if the critical care staff can go some way to assess and meet the needs of parents of critically ill children, then these parents may be more able to become effective partners in care, which may have therapeutic effects upon the child's health recovery.