Singapore's Health Outcomes After Critical Illness in Kids: A Study Protocol Exploring Health Outcomes of Families 6 months After Critical Illness

Aim: To explore and understand the impact of paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission on longitudinal health outcomes, experiences and support needs of children and their parents in the first 6 months after PICU discharge and to examine the role of ethnicity.

Design: This study uses a prospective, longitudinal design.

Methods: The sample will include children (N = 110) and at least one parent (N = 110) admitted to the PICU (KKH-AM start-up fund, October 2020). Quantitative study: Participants will be recruited at PICU admission. Data will be collected at five time points: during PICU admission (T0), at PICU discharge (T1), 1 month (T2), 3 months (T3) and 6 months (T4) after PICU discharge. Questionnaires will assess physical and cognitive outcomes of the child survivor. Emotional and social health outcomes will be assessed for both the child and the parents. Qualitative study: At least 12 parents will take part in a semi-structured interview conducted at both 1 and 6 months after PICU to explore their experiences and support needs after PICU discharge. All interviews will be audio-recorded with verbatim transcription. We will use framework analysis for qualitative data analysis.

Discussion: Understanding of Singapore health outcomes after critical illness in kids (SHACK) and their families is limited. There is an urgent need to comprehensively understand the health trajectory and consequences of the PICU child survivors and their families. This research will be the first to explore the health outcomes, needs and experiences after paediatric critical illness in Asia.

Impact: This study will provide an understanding of the health outcomes and trajectory of children and parents in the first 6 months after PICU discharge and examine the association between race and outcomes after PICU discharge. Identification of modifiable pre-disposing risk factors during the PICU admission will inform future interventions to improve long-term outcomes of children and parents following paediatric critical illness.

Trial Registration: Clinicaltrial.gov: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04637113.