{"title":"Strengthening the parental role: parents’ experiences of family presence during invasive procedures in pediatric and neonatal intensive care units","authors":"Laia Ventura Expósito , Esperanza Zuriguel-Pérez , Jesús Corrionero Alegre , Antonia Arreciado Marañón","doi":"10.1016/j.iccn.2025.104279","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>The presence of family members during invasive procedures in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units is limited, despite its emotional benefits. Exploring parents’ experiences in these contexts can help us move toward more family-centered models of care.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>(I) To explore the experiences of parents of pediatric and neonatal patients admitted to intensive care units regarding being present during invasive procedures; (II) Understand the needs, limitations, and suggestions for improvement expressed by parents regarding their presence during invasive procedures.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Qualitative phenomenological study based on in-depth interviews with parents of pediatric patients admitted to an intensive care unit. The thematic analysis followed the approach of Braun and Clarke, and the COREQ guidelines were respected.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>22 parents participated in the study. Two major themes emerged from the analysis: (1) The influence of family presence during invasive procedures, and (2) Parents’ needs. Participants viewed being present as essential to fulfilling their role as caregivers, providing comfort to their children, and strengthening emotional bonds. They endorsed being present, despite the emotional burden entailed. They identified the following key needs: receiving clear information, having emotional support, having the freedom to decide whether to be present, and having a private and safe environment.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Parents view being present during procedures as a right and a way of exercising their parental role. It promotes the emotional well-being of the child and strengthens their relationship with professionals.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for Clinical Practice</h3><div>The presence of family members should be encouraged through specific training for staff and support personnel. Safe environments must be created, and teams must foster a sensitive approach toward the active role of parents in caregiving.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51322,"journal":{"name":"Intensive and Critical Care Nursing","volume":"93 ","pages":"Article 104279"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1000,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Intensive and Critical Care Nursing","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964339725003416","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/11/24 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"NURSING","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction
The presence of family members during invasive procedures in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units is limited, despite its emotional benefits. Exploring parents’ experiences in these contexts can help us move toward more family-centered models of care.
Objective
(I) To explore the experiences of parents of pediatric and neonatal patients admitted to intensive care units regarding being present during invasive procedures; (II) Understand the needs, limitations, and suggestions for improvement expressed by parents regarding their presence during invasive procedures.
Methods
Qualitative phenomenological study based on in-depth interviews with parents of pediatric patients admitted to an intensive care unit. The thematic analysis followed the approach of Braun and Clarke, and the COREQ guidelines were respected.
Results
22 parents participated in the study. Two major themes emerged from the analysis: (1) The influence of family presence during invasive procedures, and (2) Parents’ needs. Participants viewed being present as essential to fulfilling their role as caregivers, providing comfort to their children, and strengthening emotional bonds. They endorsed being present, despite the emotional burden entailed. They identified the following key needs: receiving clear information, having emotional support, having the freedom to decide whether to be present, and having a private and safe environment.
Conclusions
Parents view being present during procedures as a right and a way of exercising their parental role. It promotes the emotional well-being of the child and strengthens their relationship with professionals.
Implications for Clinical Practice
The presence of family members should be encouraged through specific training for staff and support personnel. Safe environments must be created, and teams must foster a sensitive approach toward the active role of parents in caregiving.
期刊介绍:
The aims of Intensive and Critical Care Nursing are to promote excellence of care of critically ill patients by specialist nurses and their professional colleagues; to provide an international and interdisciplinary forum for the publication, dissemination and exchange of research findings, experience and ideas; to develop and enhance the knowledge, skills, attitudes and creative thinking essential to good critical care nursing practice. The journal publishes reviews, updates and feature articles in addition to original papers and significant preliminary communications. Articles may deal with any part of practice including relevant clinical, research, educational, psychological and technological aspects.