A pilot study to explore children’s experiences of intensive care post-cardiac arrest using art-based participatory methods

Abstract

Children who have survived a cardiac arrest are at the highest risk of long-term impairment, collectively termed Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS). This study aimed to explore through participatory and creative methods, children and young people’s (CYP) experiences post-cardiac arrest intensive care. Participatory research includes drawing, painting and small-world play. CYPs were recruited who had been admitted to intensive care post-cardiac arrest and had the cognitive and physical ability to talk, draw, paint or play out their experiences. Seven CYPs and families consented to participate. The median number of interviews was two (IQR2,3), with a median interview length of 24 minutes (IQR15,65 minutes). Themes that emerged: gratitude, distrust and extrasensory experiences. Four of the seven (57%) participants opted to paint or draw to convey their experiences. Two (28%) participants had no memories of their cardiac arrest or time in intensive care but used creative methods to express gratitude to the care team. Participatory research methods may be an effective way for CYPs to convey their experiences of post-cardiac arrest intensive care. CYPs who have been critically ill have expressed a need to make sense of their experiences in intensive care. Healthcare professionals should be aware that these experiences may be deemed as extrasensory and require sensitive exploration.