Communication in Pediatric Critical Care Units: A Review of the Literature

Current communication styles in pediatric critical care units do not often consider the needs of providers, patients, or family members.

The Child Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems score has begun real-world testing and soon will be mandatory and tied to reimbursement. Poor communication in pediatric critical care units can lead to reduced continuity of care, escalated or unnecessary care, and poor outcomes for patients and hospitals. Improving communication in pediatric critical care units is imperative.

Extant literature was reviewed to assess communication in pediatric critical care from the provider, parent, and patient perspectives. Communication tools were also reviewed.

Twenty-eight articles met inclusion criteria and were analyzed according to study focus (provider, parent/caregiver, patient, or tool). This review links communication to outcomes related to providers, parents, and patients. Current tools are reviewed to evaluate their effectiveness in addressing communication barriers and to guide future research in communication. Findings indicate that effective communication is challenging in intensive care units despite robust evidence that effective communication improves patient outcomes and quality metrics. Repeated and varied forms of communication, especially written reinforced with verbal communication, seem to have the strongest effect and show promising results. Common barriers nurses face on their units are identified, and solutions are suggested. This review adds to current knowledge by linking communication to measurable outcomes and examining communication barriers and needs specific to pediatric critical care populations from the provider, parent, and patient perspectives.