My PICU Diary: a Patient Diary for Critically Ill Children

There is considerable need for research dedicated to exploring interventions to improve the psychological and functional effects of critical care admission on patients and families. Patient diaries are one approach that has been used in several adult critical care groups and has been shown to positively impact patient care by helping patients better understand their illness, acting as a therapeutic tool and debriefing aid, and providing an outlet for caregivers to participate in care plans. However, to date, there is minimal research available in the pediatric population.

The specific objectives of this study are to evaluate the acceptability and impressions of a patient diary as a supportive measure for critically ill children in the PICU. Our secondary objective is to evaluate the feasibility of measuring the impact of a patient diary on psychological distress in critically ill children, following discharge from the PICU.

The purpose of this diary is to support the recovery of critically ill children and their family members by:

1. Helping patients understand visually and in written form as age appropriate, what has happened to them during their PICU stay, how ill they were, and in so doing, reduce anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms; AND
2. Serving as an engagement tool to help families take on an informed, active role in their child's care plan.