Supporting families during pediatric critical illness: Opportunities identified in a multicenter, qualitative study.
Jessica M Jarvis, Taylor Huntington, Grace Perry and 8 others
PMID 36749657WHAT IT FOUND
PICU caregivers advised families to take one day at a time, care for themselves, ask questions, and stay engaged with their child.
They described teams as helpful when they communicated clearly, showed compassion, provided sleep and food access, and prepared for transitions.
Key findings
01Caregivers advised families to prioritize self-care and to ask questions or challenge decisions they did not understand or feel comfortable with.
02Caregivers said clear, honest communication and consistent messages were important for understanding their child's condition.
03Caregivers wanted a designated team member for family support during chaotic PICU care and a concrete after-care plan with contact guidance before discharge.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only caregivers were interviewed, so the study does not show what the children themselves needed or experienced. Participants were English-speaking caregivers recruited by convenience sampling from a list of families who had agreed to future research, so perspectives of non-English-speaking families and families who declined may be missing. Interviews occurred a median of 2.9 years after discharge, so recollections may be affected by time. The study described experiences and themes. It did not compare groups or test whether a communication strategy, support person, or discharge plan improved outcomes. Twenty-six caregivers were interviewed, which may not capture the range of PICU experiences.
Declared interests
The supplied text does not report author conflicts of interest. The publication types indicate U.S. government Public Health Service and NIH extramural research support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these caregiver suggestions as proof that a designated support person, discharge plan, or self-care advice improves family outcomes. The study asked 26 caregivers to describe their experiences and did not test any intervention.