Transfer of children from pediatric intensive care to pediatrics : the effect of an educational video on parental anxiety

Includes bibliographical references (pages [32]-35)Studies have shown that patients and families may have increased anxiety when they transfer from an intensive care environment to a general unit (including pediatrics). The purpose of this study was to discover if an educational video about the differences between a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (Picu) and pediatrics would help decrease the anxiety parents feel when they transfer out of Picu. Parental anxiety was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The STAI was used as both a pretest (before transfer) and a posttest (within 24 hours after transfer) for all subjects. The convenience sample (N=36) consisted of parents (mother or father) who answered the questions on admission to the Picu. Of the 36 subjects, the control group (N=18) did not view the educational video, while the experimental group (N=18) viewed the video within two hours before transfer from Picu to pediatrics. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression. The major findings of this study indicated that the educational video was not significantly useful in decreasing parent's anxiety when the child transfers from Picu to pediatrics. However, parents who had previous experience with another child in ICU, or another family member in ICU, had significantly less anxiety that those with no prior experience (30.7% and 15.3%, respectively). These results suggest the previous experiences of these parents were useful in helping them cope with the crisis with less anxiety than those without prior experience to guide them.M.S. (Master of Science