Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 29, 2025
Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
Narrative diaries in the paediatric intensive care unit: A thematic analysis
Vincenza Sansone1,2, Federica Cancani3, Chiara Gagliardi3
1Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Background:
The paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) diary is a shared tool, kept at the patient bedside, written by relatives and health care providers. There is little evidence about its feasibility and how it supports the families of children admitted to the PICU. Currently, there is no evidence about how the PICU diary is used and what we can learn from it.
Aim:
To explore the contents of narrative PICU diaries in an Italian PICU.
Study Design:
Qualitative study of PICU diaries conducted with a narrative research approach.
Methods:
Children sedated and mechanically ventilated for >48 hours were enrolled in a six-bed Italian PICU of a tertiary care paediatric hospital. During the child's PICU admission, caregivers, relatives, friends, and health care providers were invited to report events, thoughts, and messages, and attach drawings/pictures for the child in the PICU diary. A thematic analysis of the PICU diary contents was performed.
Results:
Thirteen PICU diaries were completed between August and December 2020, mainly by parents (n = 95; 45%) and health care providers (n = 52; 25%). Three main themes emerged: "Social and spiritual support," "Caregiver's emotions, feelings and distress," and "PICU life." Diaries offer insight into caregivers' emotions, social support, clinical activities, and interactions with health care providers, and on progression towards recovery.
Conclusion:
PICU diaries are valuable in facilitating family-centred care by providing a space for the written account of the child's admission by parents, other visitors, and health care providers.
Relevance To Clinical Practice:
PICU diaries support the relationship and the communication between the family and the team; they provide an informal account of the emotions and needs of parents that has the potential to improve mutual understanding and family-centred care. Social support and spiritual support are key elements reported by parents for coping with their child's PICU admission.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Methods of Documentation III: PIE
01:26Methods of Documentation IV: Focus Charting
It typically involves three columns for recording information:
01:15Methods of Documentation VI: Case Management Model
For example, a patient with a chronic...
01:26Guidelines for Nursing Documentation II
Timely documentation is crucial to ensure continuity of care for patients. Any delays in recording or reporting medical information can result in medical errors and even adverse patient outcomes. From medication administration to diagnostic test results, every detail must be accurately and promptly documented to provide the best possible care for patients.
01:30Guidelines for Nursing Documentation I
Factual:
The following points emphasize the significance of upholding accurate and unbiased documentation in healthcare.
01:29Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities