Family Stress in Pediatric Critical Care

Sandra Hagstrom

doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2016.10.007

Family Stress in Pediatric Critical Care

J Pediatr Nurs. 2017 Jan-Feb:32:32-40. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2016.10.007. Epub 2016 Nov 21.

Author

Sandra Hagstrom¹

Affiliation

¹ University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital, 2450 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. Electronic address: shagstr1@fairview.org.

PMID: 27884581
DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2016.10.007

Abstract

This mixed methods study explored stress in families whose children were hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for more than one week. The study aim was to describe sources of stress for families whose children require extended hospitalization in the PICU. Data collection included semi-structured interviews and completion of the Family Inventory of Life Events and Family System Stressor Strength Inventory. Themes reported in this paper are separation, not knowing, and the child's illness and distress. Additional research is needed to validate these findings in families of other cultures and structures, and in other PICUs.

Keywords: Family stress; Mixed methods research; Nursing; Pediatric critical care.

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Child
Child, Hospitalized / psychology*
Critical Illness / psychology*
Family Health*
Female
Humans
Intensive Care Units, Pediatric
Male
Parent-Child Relations*
Pediatric Nursing / methods
Stress, Psychological / prevention & control*