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Published on: January 16, 2019

Understanding family experience in the paediatric intensive care unit: Development of the 3Cs Framework

Leighann Ness Wilson1, Jane Harnischfeger2, Deb Long3

  • 1School of Education, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD Australia; School of Design, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.

Australian Critical Care : Official Journal of the Confederation of Australian Critical Care Nurses
|July 27, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Designing paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) requires understanding family needs. The 3Cs Framework (Care, Comfort, Connect) translates family experiences into actionable design recommendations for more therapeutic healthcare environments.

Area of Science:

  • Healthcare Design
  • Pediatric Intensive Care
  • Family-Centered Care

Background:

  • Paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission is distressing for families, potentially leading to long-term impacts like post-intensive care syndrome.
  • The influence of the physical PICU environment on family experiences is underexplored.
  • Design thinking offers a method to involve stakeholders in addressing complex healthcare challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To understand family experiences in the PICU.
  • To inform the design of more therapeutic and responsive healthcare environments.
  • To translate family needs into spatial and experiential design considerations.

Main Methods:

  • Qualitative study employing design thinking-informed engagement strategies.
  • Collaborative partnership involving clinicians, designers, and families.
  • Data collection through designer immersion, interviews, participatory activities, and visual artifacts, analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Main Results:

  • Approximately 50 clinicians and 40 family members participated.
  • Three core themes emerged: Care, Comfort, and Connect.
  • The 3Cs Framework was developed, detailing key spatial and experiential needs of families in the PICU.

Conclusions:

  • Designing PICU environments must prioritize care, comfort, and connection.
  • The 3Cs Framework offers a structured approach to integrate family experiences into design.
  • This framework can guide the development of more therapeutic healthcare spaces for families.
Abstract

Keywords:
Design thinkingHealth facilitiesIntensive care unitsPaediatricPost–intensive care syndromeStakeholder engagement

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