OBJECTIVE:: To explore similarities and differences in perceptions on pediatric intensive care practices between parents and staff by using data from two studies. DESIGN:: A two-round Delphi method among nurses and physicians followed by an empiric survey among parents. SETTINGS:: Pediatric intensive care units at eight university medical centers. SUBJECTS:: Parents whose child has been admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit, nurses, and physicians. INTERVENTIONS:: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:: Outcome measures were 74 satisfaction-with-care items divided into five domains: 1) information; 2) care and cure; 3) organization; 4) parental participation; and 5) professional attitude. The Delphi study was completed by 218 nurses and 46 physicians and the survey by 559 of 1042 (54%) parents. Parents rated 31 items more important than the professionals based on the standardized mean difference (Cohen's d, 0.21-1.18, p < .003). Ten of these were related to information provision. Information on the effects of medication had the largest effect size (Cohen's d 1.18, p = .001). Correct medication administration by professionals was also rated significantly more important by parents (Cohen's d 0.64, p = .001). The professionals rated 12 items more important than the parents (Cohen's d -0.23 to -0.73, p < .005), including three about multicultural care. Significant differences remained on two of the three multicultural care items when the Dutch (n = 483) and non-Dutch parents (n = 76) were separately compared with professionals. On the domain level, parents rated the domains information and parental participation more important than the professionals (Cohen's d 0.36 and 0.26, p = .001). CONCLUSIONS:: Compared with the parents' perceptions, nurses and physicians undervalued a substantial number of pediatric intensive care unit care items. This finding may reflect a gap in the understanding of parental experiences as well as incongruity in recognizing the needs of parents.

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doi.org/10.1097/PCC.0b013e3181fe3193, hdl.handle.net/1765/22935
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Latour, J., van Goudoever, H., Duivenvoorden, H., Albers, M., van Dam, N., Dullaart, E., … Hazelzet, J. (2011). Differences in the perceptions of parents and healthcare professionals on pediatric intensive care practices. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, 12(5). doi:10.1097/PCC.0b013e3181fe3193