Priority 8 from the Paediatric Hospital Care PSP

UNCERTAINTY: What are effective strategies to mitigate the impacts of prolonged inpatient hospitalizations on the general paediatric inpatient unit? (e.g. addressing unmet needs, prolonged separation from family) (JLA PSP Priority 8)
Overall ranking 8
JLA question ID 0114/08
Explanatory note Prolonged hospitalizations can be stressful for children and their families, as such it is important to identify effective strategies to mitigate the stressors
Evidence

Hahn, E., Seltzer, R., Wright-Sexton, L., Boss, R., & Henderson, C. (2017). The Intensive Care Unit Isn’t Right, but There Is Nowhere Else to Go: Family Experience of Recurrent and Prolonged Pediatric Hospitalizations: A Systematic Review (S766). Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 53(2), 446-447.

Health Research Classification System category Generic health relevance
Extra information provided by this PSP
Original uncertainty examples Understanding the impact of prolonged hospitalization of Inuit children and youth from Nunavut on their families and especially on the caregivers. Isuues include: family separation due to the 1 escort policy, isolation, mental health challenges, emotional breakdown due to displacement and lack of support etc...). ~ What unmet needs do long term patients/families have ~ Does length of stay affect functional and rehabilitation outcomes? ~ How can healthcare providers best limit that negative impact or change hospitalization into a positive experience for children and their families? ~ What are the perceptions of patients and families of their inpatient experience after they have settled at home? ~ 8) What are the experiences and needs of hospitalized families, especially those who experience multiple hospitalizations?
Submitted by 3 x physician, 1 x speech language pathologist, 1 x nurse
PSP information
PSP unique ID 0114
PSP name Paediatric Hospital Care (Canada)
Total number of uncertainties identified by this PSP. 75 (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop 18th and 19th August 2021