Family Functioning and Parent Behavioural Changes Post-Admission to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit: A...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Intensive Care
• Family Systems Theory
• Psychosocial Outcomes

Background:

• Paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission significantly impacts family dynamics.
• Post-Intensive Care Syndrome in paediatrics (PICS-p) is recognized, but its effects on family functioning remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• Characterize family functioning in PICU survivors' families post-discharge.
• Investigate the influence of PICS-p sequelae on family dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional survey of 204 caregivers of PICU survivors in Brisbane, Australia.
• Caregiver-reported data collected via mail survey (March-August 2018).
• Descriptive and bivariate analyses examined family functioning and associated factors.

Main Results:

• Most families (97%) showed healthy functioning post-PICU discharge (median 25 months follow-up).
• 26 families reported poor functioning, primarily enmeshment.
• Poorer family functioning correlated with caregiver post-traumatic stress, mental illness, and child distress in under-5s.

Conclusions:

• While most families adapt well, a significant subset experiences ongoing challenges.
• Caregiver mental health and child distress are key predictors of adverse family outcomes.
• Targeted psychosocial screening and psychoeducational resources are crucial for post-PICU family support.