Parents' experiences and the effect on the family two years after their child was admitted to a PICU-An interview study.

For parents, having a child admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is a very stressful experience filled with anxiety. Parents are often scared and traumatised. This stress can lead to PTSD.The aim was to describe parents' experiences and the effect on the family two years after their child was admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit.Ten parents were interviewed according to a semi-structured interview guide. An inductive approach was applied for the study and qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data.The parents carried vivid memories and they were still strongly affected by the experience of having their child admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit. They could clearly recall the environment, feelings that affected them and how they felt powerless. The relationship between the parents had been strengthened.Parents, siblings and the ill child could all show symptoms of anxiety, stress and sleeping disorders. The parents valued life differently.