Strengths and Constraints of Family Involvement in Pediatric Critical Care: A Qualitative Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12707/RVI25.48.41705Keywords:
critical care, family, child, nurses, strengths, constraintsAbstract
Background: The hospitalization of a child in a pediatric intensive care unit is a traumatic event for the family, making it essential that they feel involved in the environment and in the care process.
Objective: Identify the strengths and constraints of family involvement in the care of critically ill children as perceived by nurses.
Methodology: An exploratory, descriptive, qualitative study was conducted with 26 nurses from a pediatric intensive care unit at a hospital center, organized into four focus groups. Data were analyzed using Flick’s content analysis approach.
Results: Several constraints were identified, related to family members and parents, the child’s clinical situation, healthcare professionals, and institutional factors. Strengths were reported in areas such as the team’s communication skills, the child’s comfort and safety, the usefulness of family participation, and the possibility of reducing hospitalization time.
Conclusion: Involving the family in care is essential to promoting feelings of usefulness, calm, and safety. However, nurses encounter constraints, which they attempt to mitigate through strategies that enhance family participation.
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References
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