Caregiver Perceptions of the Transition From Paediatric Intensive to Acute Care.
Maia D Regan, Briana P Keller, Emily Boulos and 2 others
PMID 42661405WHAT IT FOUND
Parents rated care quality higher in the paediatric ICU than in acute care.
They also rated care higher when they said transfer information and preparation were adequate. Nurses can make transfer communication explicit before moving a child out of intensive care.
Key findings
0187 caregivers rated care quality more positively in the paediatric ICU than in acute care.
02Caregivers who reported adequate transfer information and preparation also reported more positive acute care and overall care quality ratings.
03No significant differences were found between general paediatric ICU and paediatric cardiac ICU caregiver groups.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The questionnaire was designed by the study team and has not been validated, so the care quality scores may not measure the same thing in every family. Most participants were White, non-Hispanic, female and Christian, and English proficiency was required, so the findings may not reflect other families. Caregivers recalled experiences after discharge and reported data by self-report rather than chart review, so details may be incomplete or biased. The study shows associations, not proof that better transfer information caused higher satisfaction. The study included 87 caregivers at one southeastern United States children's hospital, so it may not apply to other units.
Declared interests
The authors report no funding to disclose and declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that a transfer checklist or more information will improve care quality. This was a retrospective survey of caregiver perceptions, and the questionnaire was not validated.