Staff support of parents in the pediatric intensive care unit: What are we doing and is it what parents want?

Hospitalization of a child in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is extremely stressful for parents, faced with their child\u27s mortality, as well as a change in their own role as parents. Although it is generally agreed that some support for parents in this setting is necessary, it is uncertain what the support should entail. Research has indicated that the most important aspects of support may be communication, hopefulness, and the provision of useful, timely information. The current study was designed to examine parent needs, as described by parents and nurses in one PICU through the use of questionnaires and interviews. Because of the paucity of research in the area, the study was designed to be exploratory. Open-ended interview questions were included, as were rating scales. Data were analyzed using a qualitative thematic approach and descriptive statistics, such as means, modes, and standard deviations. A convenience sample of 30 parent and 24 nurse volunteers participated in the study. Parents completed both interviews and questionnaires based on their experiences in the PICU. Nurses completed corresponding questionnaires. Although there was some variability in responses, the major study finding was that parents and nurses both felt that parents received a high level of support and care in this PICU. Reflective of previous research in this area, identified support needs included communication, information, and general caring on the part of staff. When parents expressed gratitude and contentment with care, these areas were highlighted. Similarly, when parents expressed criticism, these were the areas generally mentioned