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Identifying the needs of parents admitted to the paediatric emergency department
1Department of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Mardin Artuklu University, Kampus yerleskesi, Artuklu/Mardin , 47100, Türkiye. ahmetbutun@artuklu.edu.tr.
Insights
Parents in paediatric emergency departments prioritize involvement in care and clear communication. Addressing these needs can improve their overall experience and satisfaction with healthcare services.
Area of Science:
- Paediatric Emergency Medicine
- Healthcare Quality Improvement
- Family-Centered Care
Background:
- Paediatric emergency departments (PEDs) are critical access points for children's acute healthcare.
- Parental experiences and needs in PEDs are often overlooked, impacting care quality.
- Understanding parental needs is crucial for enhancing the PED environment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the specific needs of parents with children in a PED.
- To analyze how parental needs differ based on demographics and prior experiences.
- To explore the relationship between parental needs and satisfaction with care.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary public hospital's PED.
- Data were collected from 406 parents using socio-demographic forms and the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory - Emergency Department.
- Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 22.0, with significance set at p < 0.05.
Main Results:
- Parents highly prioritized 'family member participation in care' and 'communication with family members'.
- Higher satisfaction with healthcare staff, communication, and information provision correlated with greater overall need fulfillment.
- 64% of parents were satisfied with healthcare staff, 65.3% with communication, and 61.8% with information provided.
Conclusions:
- Meeting parental needs for participation and communication can significantly improve experiences in paediatric emergency settings.
- Clear communication is a fundamental parental need, influencing satisfaction and involvement.
- Further research is recommended to develop and evaluate specific interventions for enhancing parental support in PEDs.
Introduction:
The paediatric emergency department (PED) represents a vital entry point into the healthcare system, particularly for children experiencing acute health issues. However, despite playing a pivotal role in the paediatric care process, the experiences and needs of parents accompanying their children during these visits are often overlooked. Understanding these needs is essential for improving the quality of care provided in PEDs. This study aimed to identify the needs of parents of children admitted to the PED and examine how these needs vary according to demographic and experiential factors, including satisfaction with care.
Methods:
This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study. This study was conducted in the PED of a 700-bed tertiary public hospital in southeastern Turkey. The study population consisted of 406 parents of children admitted to the PED. Data were collected between October 7, 2024, and November 15, 2024, using structured questionnaires, including: (1) a socio-demographic form and, (2) the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory - Emergency Department. Data analyses were conducted using SPSS 22.0 with significance set at p < 0.05.
Results:
Parents rated "family member participation in care" significantly higher than other needs (mean difference = 0.11-0.21, all p < 0.05). This suggests that PED staff should prioritise: (1) involving parents in care decisions, (2) providing real-time updates, and (3) creating opportunities for hands-on participation when clinically appropriate. 'Communication with family members' showed significantly higher mean scores (2.89 ± 0.75) than both 'comfort' (2.79 ± 0.78; p = 0.03) and 'supporting family members' (2.80 ± 0.80; p = 0.02), with small but clinically meaningful effect sizes (Cohen's d = 0.31 and 0.29 respectively). This study revealed that 64% of parents were satisfied with the healthcare staff. In addition, 65.3% of parents were satisfied with the communication of the healthcare staff. Moreover, the rate of satisfaction with the information provided by the healthcare staff was 61.8%. The total scores on the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory - Emergency Department were significantly higher among parents who reported being satisfied with the healthcare staff, communication, and information provision (p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
This study suggested that addressing parental needs for family participation in care and communication may enhance parents' experiences in paediatric emergency settings. However, further research is needed to evaluate specific interventions. Clear communication is a fundamental need for families, influencing satisfaction, understanding, and involvement in care.
Clinical Trial Number:
Not applicable.
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