A Guide to Overcoming Parents’ Fear of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Nurse and illustrator Marina Peix Asencio presented at the University Hospital of Burgos (CENTER) Guide for parents “Bronchiolitis in the intensive care unit”of which she is the author.

Marina Pakes argues that the guidelines arose out of the need to respond to the needs of fathers and mothers of babies admitted to intensive care units and their lack of knowledge about this medical environment.

“I saw that bronchiolitis is a very common pathology in infants and one of the main reasons for admission to the pediatric intensive care unit, and there parents suffer from ignorance, anxiety and fear of seeing their child connected to many cables,” says Marina Pakes.

Better communication

For this reason, the guide is presented as a tool to “improve communication between health care providers and parents of hospitalized children,” as well as promote “family involvement and help reduce anxiety and stress among parents.” .

The publication covers, among other things, what bronchiolitis is, what a pediatric intensive care unit is, and the work carried out by healthcare professionals and the steps they take in this hospital service.

Paix developed the manual and its illustrations based on her experience as a nurse in the pediatric intensive care unit of the Hospital de Cruces in Baracaldo, and the project culminated in its inclusion in the HUBU pediatric intensive care unit.

The guide has been reviewed by the interdisciplinary team of the Burgos Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and has received scientific approval from the Spanish Society of Pediatric Nurses (AEEP) as well as the Spanish Society of Graphic Medicine.

SACYL has published 300 paper copies of the guidance which will be delivered to parents of children admitted to the HUBU Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, but these can be viewed and downloaded free of charge from the website blog is written by Marina Peix In the Internet.