A Qualitative Interpretive Study Exploring Parents' Perception of the Parental Role in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit

Overview

Journal Intensive Crit Care Nurs

Publisher Elsevier

Specialties Critical Care
Nursing

Date 2011 Apr 23

PMID 21511474

Citations 22

Authors

Kaitlin E Ames

Janet E Rennick

Sophie Baillargeon

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore parents' perception of the parental role in a tertiary care Canadian university affiliated hospital's paediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Research Methodology: A descriptive interpretive design was used with a purposive heterogeneous sample to reflect the range of children and parents normally admitted to the PICU. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven parents. Interview data were collected and analysed using the constant comparative method.

Findings: Three main themes emerged: (1) being present and participating in the child's care; (2) forming a partnership of trust with the PICU health care team; and (3) being informed of the child's progress and treatment plan as the person who "knows" the child best.

Conclusion: Enhanced understanding of the parental role in the PICU from the perspective of parents can help guide the development of strategies to more effectively support parents and promote parenting during this extremely stressful time.

Citing Articles

From bedside vigilance to empowered parent: a descriptive qualitative study of maternal involvement in the pediatric intensive care unit.

En S, Poh P, Sng Q, Hwee S, Ng J, Shorey S Eur J Pediatr. 2025; 184(4):245.

PMID: 40074985 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-025-06083-y.

Family member experience with restricted family presence in Canadian PICUs: an interpretive descriptive study.

Foster J, Ryan M, Garros D, Walls M, Slumkoski C, Moghadam N Eur J Pediatr. 2024; 184(1):52.

PMID: 39609280 PMC: 11604798. DOI: 10.1007/s00431-024-05854-3.

Parents' experiences of family and daily life after their child's stay in the pediatric intensive care unit: a qualitative descriptive study.

Stalder S, Handler-Schuster D, Benedetti F BMC Pediatr. 2024; 24(1):421.

PMID: 38956539 PMC: 11218211. DOI: 10.1186/s12887-024-04883-z.

"I want to be there. I have to be there.": Parents' perceived barriers and facilitators to bedside presence in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Poole E, Ryan M, Walls M, Slumkoski C, Curran J, Seabrook J Front Pediatr. 2024; 11:1308682.

PMID: 38259595 PMC: 10800939. DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1308682.

Parent involvement in child anthropometric measurement.

Rae S, Ong F, Dennis C, Hamilton J, Pullenayegum E, Maguire J BMC Prim Care. 2023; 24(1):89.

PMID: 37016320 PMC: 10073622. DOI: 10.1186/s12875-023-02028-2.