582: A MULTICENTER STUDY OF MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN IN THE PICU

Abstract

Introduction: PICU parents or guardians are at increased risk of mental health morbidities including acute stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. This preliminary analysis of a multicenter survey seeks to quantify the availability of evidence-based caregiver resources. Methods: We developed a 120-item IRB-reviewed exempt electronic survey based on the Society for Critical Care Medicine’s Family Centered Care Guidelines and local nursing leadership perspectives. Primary domains include the PICU environment and policies, education, and resources and staffing. We emailed the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators members a request for PICU nursing leader contact information, the intended respondents, at their institutions. We administered the survey to nurse leaders (n=95) using Qualtrics. We analyzed results using descriptive statistics, using first response from each center. Results: Thus far, we have received 39% (n=37) total and 19% (n=18) unique center responses. Of unique centers, 28% were free standing children’s hospitals 72% were PICUs within adult-pediatric institutions. 89% allowed caregivers at the PICU bedside overnight in all rooms and 67% had noise reduction strategies implemented. All nurse leaders agreed or strongly agreed that caregivers were invited to be present and contribute to PICU rounds when caregiver was present. When the caregiver was away from bedside 67% perceived caregivers were invited to round remotely. Caregiver presence was permitted during CPR (89%) and intubations and central catheter placement (22%). 33% had sedation and analgesia protocols to support end of life comfort. 67% had a standard PICU orientation process and 28% had standardized education to increase caregiver bedside engagement. 39% of respondents had PICU journals and 22% had peer support groups available. Social work attempts to evaluate every family at all centers and all had spiritual care resources available. Conclusions: PICUs provide many of the evidence-based resources recommended through the guidelines of family centered care with significant variability among centers. More study is needed to understand which resources are most impactful for caregivers and families.