Humanisation in paediatric intensive care units: A narrative review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Intensive Care
• Healthcare Humanization
• Evidence Synthesis

Background:

• The Humanising Intensive Care Project aims to improve care in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs).
• A comprehensive understanding of existing research is crucial for strategic development in PICUs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and synthesize scientific literature relevant to the strategic objectives of the Humanising Intensive Care Project within PICUs.
• To assess the current research landscape concerning the humanization of care in pediatric critical care settings.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review methodology was employed.
• Extensive literature searches were conducted across PubMed, Scopus, CINHAL, and Cochrane Library databases.
• Studies were selected based on relevance to PICUs and the project's strategic lines, adhering to PRISMA guidelines and assessed using the Mixed Method Appraisal tool.

Main Results:

• 100 articles published between 2019-2021 from 19 countries were included.
• Research covered seven strategic lines of the Humanising Intensive Care Project, with varied study designs including 32 cross-sectional observational and 15 experimental studies.
• A significant disparity in research volume across strategic lines was observed.

Conclusions:

• Synthesizing knowledge on humanization in PICUs is vital for enhancing care quality.
• There is a notable lack of experimental research, particularly concerning family presence and participation in care, and the management of post-PICU syndrome.
• Further research is recommended to address these knowledge gaps and advance PICU humanization efforts.