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Belser T, Exl MT, Nydahl P, Zumstein-Shaha M, Jeitziner MM. Experiences of parents visiting an adult family member in the intensive care unit accompanied by their underaged children: A qualitative study. Aust Crit Care 2024:S1036-7314(24)00033-X. [PMID: 38631938 DOI: 10.1016/j.aucc.2024.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to explore experiences and needs of parents visiting critically ill family members in intensive care units (ICUs) accompanied by their underaged children (<18 years). METHODS Six semistructured interviews with parents were conducted in a qualitative design. Data analysis and synthesis were performed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis. This study was conducted in five adult ICUs in Switzerland. FINDINGS Parents opted for early and truthful involvement of their children, and the majority initiated the visits themselves. Five themes were identified: feeling of shock by the entire family; crying in front of the children; feeling welcome with the children; knowing that the children can cope with it; and holding the family together. Parents felt only partially welcomed in the ICU when accompanied by their children. In one case, the parents withdrew the child from the visit. CONCLUSIONS Parents experienced the visit to a critically ill family member in the ICU with their underaged children as challenging. They were emotionally vulnerable and yet took the initiative to keep the family together. Parents had to mediate between their children, the critically ill family member, and the treatment team. Awareness of the needs of the parents visiting with underaged children is important in clinical practice. There is a need for family-centred structures and processes, including adequate visiting times and rooms suitable for children with books, pictures, and toys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Belser
- Department of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 18, 3010 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Matthias Thomas Exl
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 18, 3010 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Peter Nydahl
- Nursing Research, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, 24105 Kiel, Germany; Institute of Nursing Science and Development, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Maya Zumstein-Shaha
- Bern University of Applied Sciences Health, Murtenstrasse 10, 3008 Bern, Switzerland; University of Witten/Herdecke, Department of Nursing, Alfred-Herrhausen-Strasse 50, 58448 Witten, Germany.
| | - Marie-Madlen Jeitziner
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 18, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; Institute of Nursing Science (INS), Department of Public Health (DPH), Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 28, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
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Stavnes K, Ruud T, Benth JŠ, Hanssen-Bauer K, Weimand BM, Solantaus T, Hilsen M, Skogøy BE, Kallander EK, Kufås E, Peck GC, Birkeland B, Hagen KA. Norwegian health personnel's compliance with new legislation on children of ill parents: an exploratory cross-sectional multicentre study. BMC Health Serv Res 2022; 22:1171. [PMID: 36123688 PMCID: PMC9484080 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-08268-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In 2010 the Norwegian Parliament introduced amendments to the Health Personnel Act requiring all health personnel to inform and offer help to their patients’ children and families. We evaluated whether health personnel adhered to their obligations outlined in the Act and investigated whether family and health services characteristics were associated with the degree of compliance with the legislation. Our study was part of a larger Norwegian multi-site study conducted in five health trusts across Norway, assessing the situation for families living with parental illness. Method A cross-sectional study using quantitative data obtained from 518 patients 246 children and 278 health personnel was performed. All informants completed a questionnaire, including an instrument corresponding to the obligations in the legislation. Descriptive analyses, factor analysis and logistic regression analysis were used. Results The legislation was only partially implemented in the clinics of the health trusts. Compared to estimates prior to the introduction of the new legislation, the situation had improved somewhat, but much work remains to be done to fulfil the obligations decreed by law. The more time-consuming the obligations were, the less often they were met. The substance abuse and mental health services followed up on their obligations to a greater extent than did the physical health services. Conversely, children of physically ill parents were better informed by their families than were children of parents with mental health and substance abuse disorders. When asked the same questions, reports from health personnel were more positive compared to those of children and patients regarding the legislation’s fulfillment. Conclusion Data suggest that there has been a change in the support offered to children of ill parents. Additional work is required, however, for the Health Personnel Act to function as fully intended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Stavnes
- Nordland Hospital Trust, 8092, Bodø, Norway. .,Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. .,The Regional Centre for Eating Disorders (RESSP) at Nordland Hospital, Nordland Hospital Trust, Kløveråsveien 1, 8076, Bodø, Norway.
| | - Torleif Ruud
- Division of Mental Health Services, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.,Campus Ahus, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jūratė Šaltytė Benth
- Campus Ahus, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Health Services Research Unit, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Ketil Hanssen-Bauer
- Division of Mental Health Services, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.,Campus Ahus, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Bente M Weimand
- Division of Mental Health Services, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.,Centre for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, University of South-Eastern Norway, Drammen, Norway
| | - Tytti Solantaus
- Department of Public Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marit Hilsen
- Regional Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, RBUP Øst og Sør, Postboks 4623 Nydalen, 0405, Oslo, Norway
| | - Bjørg Eva Skogøy
- Nordland Hospital Trust, 8092, Bodø, Norway.,Nordland Research Institute, Postboks 1490, 8049, Bodø, Norway
| | | | - Elin Kufås
- Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Drammen, Norway
| | | | - Bente Birkeland
- Sørlandet Hospital Trust, Kristiansand, Norway.,Faculty for Health and Sports Science, Department of Psychosocial Health, University of Agder, Grimstad, Norway
| | - Kristine Amlund Hagen
- Norwegian Centre for Child Behavioral Development, Postboks 7053 Majorstuen, 0306, Oslo, Norway
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