title: Parental uncertainty in critical care hospitalization of children.
abstract: The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the dimensions of uncertainty, including the source, family effect, and parental response, of parents whose child was hospitalized in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). A convenience sample of 13 parents of 8 critically ill children served as subjects for this study. Data were collected using a modified grounded theory method with 1 to 1-1/2 hour interviews of parents within 2-4 days after admission of their child to the PICU. A model of PICU uncertainty was derived which identified four areas in which ambiguity, conflicting information, or perceived inefficiency gave rise to uncertainty. These areas included: environmental uncertainty, illness uncertainty, caregiver uncertainty, and family systems uncertainty. Findings are related to Mishel's Theory of Uncertainty (1987) and implications for pediatric nursing research are discussed.
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Turner
authors: P S
authors: PS
authors: Tomlinson
authors: B L
authors: BL
authors: Harbaugh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized; D006801:Humans; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012380:Role; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology