Family participation in the care of children hospitalized in an intensive care unit

Objective: To understand family involvement in child care in a Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (NPICU). Methods: Qualitative exploratory and descriptive study. The study was conducted in a university hospital in Northern Minas Gerais, Brazil, with parents of children in NPICU. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and later underwent content analysis, which yielded two categories: experiencing the care for the child in the Intensive Care Unit and factors hindering and facilitating care. Results: It was clear that the family is not fully inserted in the care of hospitalized children. This happens due to parents’ feelings of fear and insecurity, restrictions caused by the complexity of the technology and equipment used in health care, family members’ unavailability because they need to perform other activities and live in other municipalities. The support from the staff in the sector was singled out by respondents as a factor that facilitates care. Conclusion: The study contributes to reflection on the importance of parental involvement in the care of children who need intensive care and highlights that family involvement is a necessity that must be taken into account by healthcare professionals in the comprehensive care process of pediatric patients.