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Published on: January 7, 2020

Meaning of caring in pediatric intensive care unit from the perspective of parents: A qualitative study

Janet Yvonne Mattsson1, Maria Arman2, Maaret Castren2

  • 1Karolinska Institutet, Sweden janet.mattsson@ki.se.

Journal of Child Health Care : for Professionals Working with Children in the Hospital and Community
|August 14, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Parents find meaning in caring for critically ill children by acting as a bridge, creating a safe atmosphere, and meeting needs. Expert physical care combined with emotional support and family adaptation defines meaningful care in pediatric intensive care units.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nursing
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Parental Experience

Background:

  • Parental presence and participation are vital even when children are critically ill.
  • Pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) present unique challenges to parental involvement due to advanced technology and emotional distance.
  • Understanding the parental perspective on care within the PICU is essential for improving family-centered care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore and understand the meaning of caring within the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) from the parents' viewpoint.
  • To identify the key themes and experiences that constitute parental caring in a PICU setting.

Main Methods:

  • Interpretive phenomenological method based on Benner's framework.
  • Qualitative study involving observations and interviews with eleven parents of seven children.
  • Data analysis focused on identifying emergent themes related to the experience of caring.

Main Results:

  • Parents described caring through themes such as 'being a bridge to the child on the edge,' 'building a sheltered atmosphere,' 'meeting the child's needs,' and 'adapting the environment for family life.'
  • Caring was experienced most profoundly when directed towards the vulnerable child.
  • Key aspects included expert physical care, emotional support, and facilitating ongoing parental care within a welcoming environment.

Conclusions:

  • Meaningful caring in the PICU is a holistic experience encompassing expert physical care, emotional fulfillment, and supportive family engagement.
  • Creating an inviting environment that facilitates parental involvement is crucial for enhancing the experience of care for critically ill children and their families.
  • The findings highlight the importance of recognizing and supporting parents as active partners in their child's intensive care.

Keywords:
Intensive carenurse–family relationshipsparenting supportpediatricphenomenology

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