Parental psychosocial needs in Brazilian paediatric intensive care units.

BACKGROUND

Having children admitted in the intensive care unit is a demanding experience for parents. They encounter several difficulties during this process, and it is important to properly identify their psychosocial needs for the health team to address appropriately.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to identify the psychosocial needs encountered by parents of children in pediatric intensive care units in Brazil.

METHODS

A descriptive study with a qualitative approach was used to increase understanding of psychosocial experiences of parents. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 parents of hospitalized children in pediatric intensive care units in Brazil. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The university ethics review committee approved the research protocol. All parents were informed on study details and provided written consent prior to the interview.

RESULTS

Four themes were constructed: 1) Support from family and peers; 2) Support from the healthcare team; 3) Parental role; and 4) Emotional recovery. Parents expressed diverse psychosocial needs based on family and peer social support, child's clinical condition, as well as the structure, norms, and routines of health care teams during hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings highlight the importance of nursing assessment of psychosocial experiences encountered by parents of children in pediatric intensive care units, which will guide planning of individualized interventions and to increase family-centered care in pediatric intensive care units.