Parental stress in the paediatric intensive care unit: A cross-sectional study

Objectives

Admission of a child to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is associated with significant psychological stress among parents due to exposure to invasive procedures, unfamiliar environment and uncertainty regarding outcomes. Several studies have reported substantial parental stress in such settings. The objective of the study is to assess parental stress among parents of children admitted to the PICU and to evaluate the influence of clinical and sociodemographic factors on stress levels. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 parents of children aged 1 month to 15 years admitted to a PICU. Parents of children admitted for at least 24 h were included. Parental stress was assessed using the Parental Stressor Scale–PICU, with minor contextual modifications. Sociodemographic variables and clinical factors including duration of PICU stay were recorded. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation.