Understanding care of critically ill children and their families
Interview with lead author, Dr Shannon Barnes, of the mixed methods systematic review, 'Effectiveness and family experiences of interventions promoting partnerships between families and pediatric and neonatal intensive care units.'
Who will find this study most useful, and what value does this study have for them?
This is an important study for anyone who works in paediatric or neonatal healthcare, especially in intensive care. Family participation has long been a part of healthcare of children and infants but this review highlights the importance of true partnership rather than just presence.
What was your motivation for undertaking the study?
This study was conducted as part of the Swiss OCToPuS study, alongside other studies, to better understand the care of critically ill children and their families. It gave the chance to really dig deep into some of the ways that families can be supported while their child is in intensive care.
What are the key points or ‘takeaways’ from the review?
A genuine partnership between parents and health professionals in providing care for a critically ill child can help improve parental anxiety and stress as well as how satisfied they are with their involvement in the health care. Also, parents and families value being a partner in health care. Some studies found that parents had increased knowledge and confidence when they partnered with health professionals. It is important for health professionals and intensive care units to put in place ways to increase partnership with families.
Is there anything about the topic and/or findings that you would like to highlight and provide commentary on?
This review focuses on partnerships between families and health professionals. For many years, families have been permitted to visit their child while they are in hospital. However, in some places, it is a new thing to have families be equal participants and decision makers in health care. The partnership that we are talking about can have a real impact on children and their families. Some parts of health care are already doing this, but it is important to make this normal practice rather than the exception.
Were there any findings that were of particular interest to you, and/or surprised you? If so, what were they?
It is easy to imagine that having a child in intensive care is a stressful experience. While there can be lots of treatments for anxiety and stress, it is great that partnering with parents can actually reduce this. This helps parents who have a big job looking after their family and I look forward to these results improving health care for children and their families.
Is there anything else you would like to add about the review?
There was a lot of research completed in neonatal intensive care units (that usually provide care to newborn infants up to around 1 year old). Even though paediatric intensive care units care for children up until adolescence, there were only 5 studies out of 48 that researched partnership in this setting. It is important to make sure that research also happens in older children and their families.
Resources
Effectiveness and family experiences of interventions promoting partnerships between families and pediatric and neonatal intensive care units: a mixed methods systematic review
Barnes, Shannon; Macdonald, Ibo; Rahmaty, Zahra; de Goumoëns, Véronique; Grandjean, Chantal; Jaques, Cécile; Ramelet, Anne-Sylvie
JBI Evidence Synthesis 22(7):p 1208-1261, July 2024. | DOI: 10.11124/JBIES-23-00034