Abstract

GONZALEZ VILLANUEVA, Purificación; FERRER CERVERO, Virginia; AGUDO GISBERT, Elisa  and  MEDINA MOYA, José Luis. The parents and family as part of care in pediatric intensive care. Index Enferm [online]. 2011, vol.20, n.3, pp.151-154. ISSN 1699-5988.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1132-12962011000200003.

The purpose of this study is to make an approach to the experience and meaning that the hospitalization in a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) may have for 6 to 12 years old children. The methodology used has been the study of multiple cases from an ethnographic point of view. Data has been collected in a four level hospital of Madrid and at the children homes, using participating witnessing and semi structured interviews to two girls and a boy, their families and PICU and paediatric ward professionals. One of the most outstanding conclusions is that children are alone most of the time, although one of their most important needs is the presence of their parents and families.

Keywords : Child; Nursing pediatric; Hospitalization; Needs; Fears; Own experience; Intensive care; Coping; Psychological impact.