Parents' experiences and the effect on the family two years after their child was admitted to a PICU-An interview study

Abstract

Background: For parents, having a child admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is a very stressful experience filled with anxiety. Parents are often scared and traumatised. This stress can lead to PTSD.

Aim: The aim was to describe parents' experiences and the effect on the family two years after their child was admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit.

Material and methods: Ten parents were interviewed according to a semi-structured interview guide. An inductive approach was applied for the study and qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data.

Findings: The parents carried vivid memories and they were still strongly affected by the experience of having their child admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit. They could clearly recall the environment, feelings that affected them and how they felt powerless. The relationship between the parents had been strengthened.

Conclusion: Parents, siblings and the ill child could all show symptoms of anxiety, stress and sleeping disorders. The parents valued life differently.

Keywords: Disordered reality; Environment; Family; PICU; Powerless; Trauma; Vivid memories.