Parent bed spaces in the PICU: effect on parental stress.
The purpose of this comparative descriptive study was to identify the impact of providing a parent bed space in the PICU, allowing for continual parental presence, on stress of the parents of critically ill children. Data were collected from parents (n = 86) at two children's hospitals 3 months prior to the opening of new PICUs with parent bed spaces. Following a transition period, data were collected from a sample of parents (n = 92) who had used the parent bed to stay overnight with their child. Parental stress was measured with the Parental Stressor Scale: Pediatric Intensive Care (PSS: PICU). Stress scores were significantly lower (p = .02) for parents who utilized the parent beds in the new PICUs. New PICU environments that facilitate continual parental presence may reduce parental stress related to a child's hospitalization.
Smith
Andrea B
AB
Office of Grants and Research Administration, Cook Children'S Medical Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
Hefley
Glenda C
GC
Anand
K J S
KJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001131:Arkansas; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006272:Health Facility Environment / Q000458:organization & administration; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012386:Rooming-in Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires