Family Health Care Needs in a Pediatric Population 6 Months After Moderate and Severe Physical Trauma

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Traumatology
• Family Support Systems
• Child Health Outcomes

Background:

• Traumatic injuries significantly impact children and young adults, yet evidence-based guidelines for family support are scarce.
• Severe pediatric trauma necessitates understanding and addressing the unique needs of affected families.
• Existing literature lacks comprehensive data on family requirements post-childhood injury.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the specific needs of families following moderate to severe pediatric traumatic injury.
• To identify factors associated with the unmet needs of these families.
• To inform the development of targeted support strategies for pediatric trauma survivors' families.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, multicenter follow-up study involving children (0-18 years) with moderate/severe traumatic injuries (New Injury Severity Score > 9).
• Data collection included sociodemographic and injury variables at baseline.
• The Family Needs Questionnaire-Paediatric Version assessed parental needs at 6-month follow-up, analyzed using bivariate logistic regression.

Main Results:

• At 6 months post-injury, 82% of families reported needs for health information (mean score 3.8/5) and involvement in care (mean score 3.7/5).
• Emotional support needs were reported by 71% of families (mean score 2.6/5).
• A higher number of injuries and younger child age were significantly associated with greater family needs.

Conclusions:

• Families of pediatric trauma patients require substantial health information, involvement in care, and emotional support.
• Identifying families with greater needs can be aided by considering the number of injuries and the child's age.
• These findings underscore the importance of tailored support interventions for families navigating the aftermath of severe pediatric trauma.