Parental experience of Early Rehabilitation and Mobilisation in PICU

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    What is the impact of Early Rehabilitation and Mobilisation (ERM) on the parental experience of their child receiving treatment in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)?

  • IRAS ID

    323401

  • Contact name

    Donna Austin

  • Contact email

    da1a22@soton.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Southampton

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 9 months, 6 days

  • Research summary

    This study is looking at what impact Early Mobilisation and Rehabilitation (ERM) therapy has on parents whilst their child is receiving treatment in a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
    ERM therapy constitutes a wide range of therapies, including ambulation and exercise (e.g., walking, using ergometer bikes), range of motion exercises, and mobilisation in bed (e.g., lying to sitting and repositioning). The current literature has shown that using ERM therapy can reduce length of hospital stays, reduce mortality rates, and increase patient mobility, leading to better quality of life upon hospital discharge, with faster returns to work and school after hospital admission, and greater patient independence.

    Whilst being treated in PICU, a child's care is approached in a family-oriented manner, where the family is treated as a whole unit and form a vital part of a child's care. Despite this, the parental role shifts when children are admitted to PICU, as they require intensive medical intervention, which is predominantly provided by healthcare professionals, limiting opportunities for parents to provide care for their child. ERM provides an extra opportunity for parents to be involved in the care process, which can help reduce the stress associated with PICU admissions, overall improving both the parents and child's wellbeing.
    Current literature around ERM use within PICU is limited, and little is understood about how parents experience this phenomenon. This study will be looking at the parental perspective of ERM therapy to discover its impact on parents and how it helps reduce the stress surrounding having a child admitted to PICU.

  • REC name

    London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    23/LO/0525

  • Date of REC Opinion

    28 Jul 2023

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion