Experiences Reported by Siblings of Children Hospitalized in the PICU

Experiences Reported by Siblings of Children Hospitalized in the PICU

The care for a child in pediatric intensive care is recognized as a traumatic experience for the patient and their entourage. The needs and feelings of parents are relatively well supported in the literature. However, there is still too little data concerning siblings, who can nevertheless be impacted by this difficult life experience. The study consists of conducting two semi-structured interviews with siblings of children hospitalized in pediatric intensive care at Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital and Robert Debré Hospital. The first interview will take place during the stay in intensive care, the second one 1 month after discharge from pediatric intensive care.

The care for a child in pediatric intensive care is recognized as a traumatic experience for the patient and their entourage. The needs and feelings of parents are relatively well supported in the literature. However, there is still too little data concerning siblings, who can nevertheless be impacted by this difficult life experience.

The study consists of conducting two semi-structured interviews, with an estimated duration of 15 to 30 minutes, with siblings of children hospitalized in pediatric intensive care at Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital and Robert Debré Hospital. The first interview will take place during the stay in intensive care, the second 1 month after discharge from pediatric intensive care.

The study will concern children and adolescents aged 9 to 18 years old because this is a population at risk in this situation. Concepts of illness, death and its irreversible nature evolve during childhood. By definition, there are three major stages which are: 0-6 years; 7-11 years; 10-18 years. For older children (> 10 years) these definitions are well established and they would be more at risk of presenting psychiatric disorders later (post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive syndrome, etc.).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children and adolescents aged 9 to 18 years
• Whose sister or brother is hospitalized in pediatric intensive care at Necker-Enfants Malades hospital or Robert Debré hospital
• Holders of parental authority and children or adolescents informed and consenting to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Death of patients
• Language barrier (French not mastered)
• Inability to participate in a semi-structured interview (intellectual disability)