Clinical Research Directory
Browse clinical research sites, groups, and studies.
Effects of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Diary on Parents
Sponsor: Cukurova University
Summary
Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission is a highly stressful and potentially traumatic experience for parents, who may experience anxiety, uncertainty, helplessness, and post-traumatic stress symptoms that can persist after discharge. PICU diaries have emerged as a family-centered intervention to help parents understand and reconstruct the intensive care experience, reduce memory gaps, facilitate emotional expression, and strengthen communication with healthcare professionals. Previous studies suggest that PICU diaries are feasible, acceptable, and potentially effective in reducing psychological distress and improving family experiences. However, randomized controlled studies evaluating their effects on parental traumatic stress, anxiety, and satisfaction with care remain limited. Moreover, no experimental study evaluating a structured PICU diary intervention in Türkiye has been identified. Therefore, evaluating the effects of PICU diaries on parental psychological outcomes and satisfaction with care is warranted.
Official title: The Effect of a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Diary on Traumatic Stress, Anxiety, and Satisfaction With Care in Parents: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
100
Start Date
2026-10-01
Completion Date
2027-06
Last Updated
2026-09-08
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Diary (PICU Diary)
The PICU diary will include nursing entries, parental messages, positive clinical developments, and photographs. Nurses will document the child's clinical condition, treatments, significant events, and progress using clear and family-friendly language. Parents will be encouraged to write messages expressing their feelings, thoughts, and support for their child. Positive clinical milestones, such as reduced ventilatory support, initiation or advancement of feeding, and mobilization, will also be recorded. With written parental consent, photographs may be added once or twice a week depending on the child's clinical condition. Before implementation, the PICU team will receive standardized training on the purpose of the diary, documentation criteria, and their roles in diary writing. All caregivers will be invited to contribute to the diary, and the intervention will be implemented consistently across all participants.
Locations (1)
Cukurova University
Sarıçam, Adana, Turkey (Türkiye)