Open AccessFamilies' Experiences of Life in the Year after a Child's Critical Illness: Navigating the Road to a “New Normal”
Author(s) -
Ellie Atkins,
Mary John,
Gillian Colville
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of pediatric intensive care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2146-4618
pISSN - 2146-4626
DOI - 10.1055/s-0040-1705132
Subject(s) - normality , grounded theory , medicine , narrative , critical illness , new normal , unit (ring theory) , qualitative research , nursing , psychiatry , critically ill , intensive care medicine , psychology , disease , covid-19 , social science , linguistics , philosophy , mathematics education , sociology , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Semistructured interviews were conducted with patients and family members ( n = 18) postdischarge to examine how they managed their recovery in the year following a child's intensive care unit admission. Data were analyzed using the grounded theory. Participants described an ongoing need to develop and adapt their narratives about admission and recovery. Other key themes were as follows: just getting through, recognizing they had changed, striving for normality, and finding positive aspects related to their experiences. It took longer than they expected for families to build a coherent narrative of events postdischarge and to adjust to the "new normal." Implications for health professionals are discussed.