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Poster Display - 93
Navigating the Storm: Parental Experiences and Needs in Pediatric Emergency Surgery – A Qualitative Descriptive Study.
Hui Lu Lok, Qian Wen Sng, Lydia Yi Xin Chia, Joanne Li Wee Liam, Caroline Choo Phaik Ong
KK Women's and Children's Hospital
Purpose: To explore experiences, practical and informational needs of parents with children undergoing emergency surgery.
Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Ten parent of children who underwent emergency surgery in a public tertiary hospital were recruited by convenience sampling. Data collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews was analysed with thematic analysis.
Results: Four main themes were derived: (1) Parental feelings about child’s clinical condition; (2) Parental informational needs; (3) Perception of care affected by prior experience; and (4) Valued support (Table 1: Supportive quotes). Persistent pain/ fever experienced by the child while awaiting surgery was perceived as deteriorating medical condition. Parental anxiety is reduced by alleviating the child’s discomfort with providence of emotional and practical support. Prompt information delivered through regular communication by healthcare professionals contributed to enhanced parental experiences and reassurance. Positive healthcare experiences shape parents’ expectations to trust in healthcare professionals and improves coping.
Conclusion: Parents face anxiety due to unpredictable nature of emergency surgery, that is exacerbated by the child’s discomfort from medical condition. Parental experience is improved with enhanced inter-disciplinary healthcare professional and caregiver communication, rendered support and good symptom management for child.
| Table 1: Supportive Quotes |
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... I want to get it [emergency surgery] done as soon as possible… he’s really in pain, I don’t know [if there is] … danger in pain… (P6) … The best course of action, … [was] relayed very clearly as well to us... The decisions for the next step wasn’t very difficult. (P9) My first daughter born in ... [our hospital]. So I have a very good memory with [our hospital] ... That’s why I brought her here. (P4) The doctor in charge... gave me a lot of assurance that I need and support... (P3) She [Nurse] was quite supportive… She [Nurse] would always come and ask what [I needed] … it’s quite good support… (P4) |