276 Parental preparation for first admission

Abstract

Objectives Provision of adequate preparatory information for families prior to a child's hospitalisation is increasingly recognised as important in reducing parental distress and enabling parents to maintain a key role in care. This is especially important in advance of a child's first admission. Hughes, Phillips & Daniels (2014) found that parents of children with CF reported feeling unprepared for their child's admission and emphasised the need to receive preparatory information. Therefore, this qualitative study aimed to collaboratively develop pre-hospitalisation resources addressing the medical, practical and psychosocial aspects of admission with parents. Methods Semi-structured interviews were completed with parents whose children with CF have been admitted for routine intravenous antibiotic treatment within the last two years. Theme analysis of transcribed interviews was used. Results Parents' views on the important medical, practical and psychosocial issues to address, alongside the most effective and timely process of information delivery, led to the collaborative development of information resources. Conclusion Provision of adequate preparatory information is crucial in reducing parental distress. This study extends previous research by demonstrating the issues that are important for parents in relation to their children's first hospital admission and meaningfully involving families in service development. The development of a resource for parents by parents aims to ensure that families are informed about their child's hospital admission, feel more confident about managing this experience, and have increased awareness of ongoing psychosocial support.