Factors Associated With Parent-Perceived Miscommunication in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Parents of children in pediatric intensive care units have varied communication experiences with health care professionals. Little is known about factors associated with parents' perceptions of miscommunication.

To examine children's clinical and parents' demographic and psychosocial factors associated with perceptions of miscommunication in the pediatric intensive care unit.

This study was a cross-sectional survey of parents of children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit between January 1, 2018, and February 29, 2020, with a stay of greater than 24 hours.

Most of the 200 parent respondents were female (83.4%), White (71.4%), and non-Hispanic (87.9%); median age was 39 years (mean [SD], 40.2 [8.75] years); 17.6% were Black or African American. Among 210 children, mean (SD) age was 6.1 (6.02) years, mean (SD) stay was 4.5 (6.2) days, 38.6% were admitted because of respiratory illness, and the admission was the first for 51.0%. Of the parents, 16.5% reported miscommunication in the pediatric intensive care unit. In multivariable linear regressions, parents' stress (β = 0.286), parents' views of clinician communication (β = -0.400), parents' trust in physicians (β = -0.147), and length of stay (β = 0.122) accounted for 45% of the explained variance in parent-perceived miscommunication (R2 = 0.448, F = 41.19, P < .001).

Parental stress and trust in physician scores were associated with perceived miscommunication. Further research is needed to understand the causes and consequences of miscommunication in order to support hospitalized children and their parents.