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Published on: July 4, 2018

Parental bereavement needs in the pediatric intensive care unit: review of available measures

Kathleen L Meert1, Stephanie Myers Schim, Sherylyn H Briller

  • 1Children's Hospital of Michigan, Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. kmeert@med.wayne.edu

Journal of Palliative Medicine
|June 3, 2011
PubMed

Insights

No existing tools specifically assess the needs of parents who have lost a child in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Further research is needed to develop a new instrument for this vulnerable population.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric critical care
  • Bereavement research
  • Family-centered care

Background:

  • Pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) are complex environments where critically ill children receive advanced care, but also where child death occurs.
  • Understanding the needs of parents experiencing bereavement in the PICU is crucial for improving family support and care.
  • Existing research highlights the importance of addressing family needs during pediatric hospitalization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review existing literature to identify assessment tools for the needs of parents bereaved in the PICU.
  • To evaluate the suitability of current instruments for measuring the specific needs of this population.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive search of databases (PubMed™, CINAHL™, Health and Psychosocial Instruments™) was conducted for tools assessing family needs during hospitalization.
  • 357 abstracts were screened, leading to a review of 96 articles describing 31 instruments.
  • Fifteen instruments were selected based on their relevance to parents/bereaved individuals, use in pediatric/neonatal critical care settings, measurement of family needs or related constructs, and documented psychometric properties.

Main Results:

  • No instruments were identified that were specifically designed to assess the needs of parents bereaved in the PICU.
  • While reviewed tools demonstrated validity and reliability in their intended populations, this was not established for parents bereaved in the PICU.
  • The identified instruments did not comprehensively cover the full spectrum of needs experienced by parents bereaved in the PICU.

Conclusions:

  • There is a significant need for a new, dedicated instrument to accurately assess the needs of parents bereaved in the PICU.
  • Development of such an instrument should consider patient conditions, illness trajectories, and life course perspectives.
  • Improved assessment tools are essential for providing adequate support to bereaved parents in critical care settings.
Abstract

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