Preparation of parents for the ICU experience: what are we missing?

This study examined the stress experienced by parents of children hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU) and explored the degree to which parents are prepared for specific aspects of the ICU environment. Twenty-two mothers and 6 fathers of 22 children hospitalized in a pediatric ICU were interviewed using the Parental Stressor Scale: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, the Parent Preparation questionnaire designed for this study, and a personal-situational questionnaire. A majority of parents (82%) responded that they had been prepared in some manner and considered the preparation adequate. The dimensions of the ICU that were perceived by parents as most stressful were the child's behavior and the child's emotional response, and parental role alterations. The dimensions of the ICU environment that parents were least likely to have been prepared for or receive help with were these same dimensions. When parents were prepared for or helped with aspects of the ICU, they perceived the adequacy of that help as high. The results of this study suggested that an important focus in parental education and support should be on the parent-child relationship, the most stressful aspect of a child's ICU admission for parents.