The lived experience of parents of children admitted to an intensive therapy unit

Abstract

Background: Investigating the experiences of parents with children admitted to the Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU) offers valuable insights into the emotional challenges and difficulties they encounter during this trying period. Furthermore, assessing the effectiveness of parents' coping mechanisms to navigate these challenges is essential. Aim: The study examined the lived experiences of parents whose children had been admitted to an Intensive Therapy Unit Research Design: A qualitative study based on the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Setting: The study involved five parents whose children were admitted to an ITU at a general hospital in Malta. Participants: Five Maltese parents whose children were admitted to ITU in the last three years. Method: Participants participated in one-on-one interviews that facilitated in-depth discussions. These semi-structured interviews employed open-ended questions and were conducted either face-to-face or online in a comfortable setting selected by the participants based on their availability. Each interview lasted between 45 and 60 minutes. A single researcher conducted the data analysis by reviewing the transcripts several times to identify key concepts. The researcher looked for connections, grouped related themes and ideas, and organised them by their similarities to assign clear labels to each group. Results: Three main themes emerged from the data, namely: Living on the edge, Receiving Support, and Silent Struggles. Conclusions: Parents in this setting experienced personal challenges while caring for their children in the ITU, leading to considerable emotional strain. They confronted various difficulties, including environmental issues caused by limited space and lack of privacy, as well as psychological challenges due to insufficient access to professional psychological support. While parents reported some negative experiences, they also noted positive outcomes, such as feeling involved in their child’s care plan and receiving support from nurses.