Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm
Published on: April 28, 2016
Can children recall their experiences of admission to an intensive care unit?
Insights
Children can recall their pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) experiences, including painful events, up to twelve months after discharge. This pilot study highlights the importance of understanding pediatric patient memory after critical care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric intensive care
- Patient recall and memory
- Critical care medicine
Background:
- Understanding patient memory of critical care is crucial for improving care quality.
- Limited data exists on children's long-term recall of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admissions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a pilot study assessing children's prospective recall of their PICU admission experiences.
- To evaluate recall of both general and painful events at different time points post-discharge.
Main Methods:
- Telephone interviews were conducted with children 4-8 weeks and 6-12 months after PICU discharge.
- Recall was categorized as limited or extensive for general and painful events.
- Statistical analysis explored changes in recall and associations with admission variables.
Main Results:
- 58% of children had extensive recall of general events at 4-8 weeks, and 52% at 6-12 months.
- 30% recalled painful events extensively at 4-8 weeks, and 28% at 6-12 months.
- Recall of painful events was common even in children who received analgesia/sedation.
Conclusions:
- Children possess a significant ability to recall experiences from their PICU admission.
- Recall of both general and painful events persists up to twelve months post-discharge.
- Current pain management strategies do not fully prevent recall of painful ICU experiences.
Objective:
To perform a pilot study to prospectively determine children's ability to recall events experienced during admission to a paediatric intensive care unit.
Methods:
Children's recall of the intensive care experience was evaluated, using telephone interview, at four to eight weeks and six to twelve months following discharge. Separate scores were assigned to reflect children's recall of general events and painful events. Recall was classified as either limited or extensive. Statistical analysis was performed to detect change in recall status over time and the association between the ability to recall and relevant admission variables (previous admission status, type of admission, frequency/intensity of painful procedures, length of stay and administration of analgesia/sedation).
Results:
In a sample of 50 children, recall of general events was extensive 4-8 weeks after discharge in 29 (58%) children and extensive in 26 (52%) children 6-12 months after discharge. Recall of painful events was extensive 4-8 weeks after discharge in 15 (30%) children and 14 (28%) children at 6-12 months after discharge. Thirteen (33.3%) of the 39 children who received analgesia/sedation had extensive recall of painful events at 4-8 weeks after discharge; 12 (30.8%) children had extensive recall at 6-12 months after discharge.
Conclusions:
Children have the ability to recall many of their experiences related to admission to a paediatric intensive care unit and can continue to recall many of these experiences twelve months after discharge. Despite current methods for guiding titration of opiate infusions and intermittent administration of benzodiazepines, many children can recall painful experiences and general events encountered within the intensive care unit.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Traumatic Memory
01:19Restorative Care
01:14Autobiographical Memory
01:23Acute Respiratory Failure-IV