Parents' reactions to participating in interviews about end-of-life decision making

Parents' reactions to participating in interviews about end-of-life decision making

Michelson KN; Koogler TK; Skipton K; Sullivan C; Frader JE

Journal Of Palliative Medicine

2006

Child; Female; Humans; Male; United States; Terminally Ill; Adult; Interviews; decision making; ICU Decision Making; Parents/psychology; child mortality

BACKGROUND: Although in-depth interviewing is well suited to studying the sensitive topic of end-of-life decision making, no reports have been published assessing the effects on parents of participating in interviews regarding end-of-life decision making for critically ill children. OBJECTIVE: To examine the reactions of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients' parents to interviews on end-of-life decision making for their child. METHODS: We conducted semistructured interviews on end-of-life decision making with PICU patients' parents from two tertiary care PICUs. We approached 117 parents of 102 patients. Seventy-four parents (63%) of 69 patients participated. RESULTS: Forty-three parents (61%) described the interview as "a good experience," 20 (29%) as "a neutral experience," and 1 (1%) as "a bad experience." The parent who judged the interview negatively stated that, "It bothers me a little bit because my son is [out] there having difficulties and I'm in here and not out there." Fifty-four of 59 parents (92%) said they would participate in another similar interview. Most parents (92%) felt the medical community should continue research on end-of-life decision making. Themes identified from the responses included: emotional reaction to the interviews; exposure to end-of-life decision-making issues; impact on parents' views; and impact on future end-of-life decision making. Parents' comments suggested that many perceived the interviews as beneficial. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the willingness of many parents of critically ill children to participate in study interviews regarding end-of-life decision making, a topic that most parents felt was important and warranted more research.

2006

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