Experience of Families During Admission of Their Minors to a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit: A Phenomenological Study.
Patricia Rubio-Garrido, Leticia Bazo-Hernández, Anna Enrich-Font and 1 others
PMID 40551303WHAT IT FOUND
Families of children with long intensive care admissions described fear, anxiety, helplessness and loneliness, but also trust and comfort when staff communicated clearly, included them in care and taught practical tasks.
Key findings
01The analysis produced two categories: family self-perceptions and the role of the caregiver.
02Family self-perceptions included training, comfort and trust, as well as fear, anxiety, helplessness and loneliness.
03Families described willingness to provide care, adaptation to routines and support from other families.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study included 12 participants, all female, from one hospital, so it cannot show how common these experiences are. It did not include families of children in end-of-life situations, so it says little about that group. The researchers were PICU nurses and the participants came from a unit where family participation was already essential, which may shape their perceptions. It reports experiences and themes, not measured effects of any intervention.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The article contributes to the lead author's doctoral thesis.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that family training or emotional support improves child or family outcomes. The study describes family members' experiences and themes; it did not test an intervention or measure changes.