A Tagarro García1, F Ruza Tarrió. 1. Pediatra UCIP. Hospital Infantil La Paz. Madrid. España. alfredotagarro@hotmail.com
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: We developed a study to investigate how end-of-life care is delivered in our PICU. It was based on questionnaires. Questionnaires are incomplete tools to study perceptions. Knowing this, information was completed by interviewing some parents. OBJECTIVE: To know in depth the parental perception on potential improvements relating to end of life care in the PICU. METHODS: Long and probing interviews with parents of deceased children. Answers were analyzed through content analysis (qualitative methodology). RESULTS: Eleven parents and/or mothers agreed to meet for an interview. They mentioned that end-of-life care may be improved in the following areas: information and communication, attention to families, death and after-death time, Unit organization, children care during admittance, and empathy from the staff. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to obtain information about end-of-life care by asking parents. Content analysis provides us with useful knowledge to face child death and improve care. The main areas to improve are related with family-centered care.
INTRODUCTION: We developed a study to investigate how end-of-life care is delivered in our PICU. It was based on questionnaires. Questionnaires are incomplete tools to study perceptions. Knowing this, information was completed by interviewing some parents. OBJECTIVE: To know in depth the parental perception on potential improvements relating to end of life care in the PICU. METHODS: Long and probing interviews with parents of deceased children. Answers were analyzed through content analysis (qualitative methodology). RESULTS: Eleven parents and/or mothers agreed to meet for an interview. They mentioned that end-of-life care may be improved in the following areas: information and communication, attention to families, death and after-death time, Unit organization, children care during admittance, and empathy from the staff. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to obtain information about end-of-life care by asking parents. Content analysis provides us with useful knowledge to face childdeath and improve care. The main areas to improve are related with family-centered care.