CompletedNot Applicable

Singapore's Health Outcomes After Critical Illness in Kids

Singapore300 participantsStarted 2021-01-14

Plain-language summary

What is the problem? Every year about 2.5 million children are affected by critical illness and require admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). However, both children and their parents may encounter difficulties after critical illness. Children affected physically may have difficulties in breathing, eating, and drinking. Parents have reported feeling symptoms of stress such as nightmares and excessive worries after PICU discharge. Currently, the investigators do not know when and how the problems unfold and what harm does it cause. Without this information, healthcare professionals are not equipped to support these families after PICU discharge. Research Plan? To understand how critical illness could affect the physical, emotional, and social experiences of children age 1 month to 18 years of age and their parents in the first 6 months after a PICU admission. 144 children and their parents will be followed from the time of PICU admission to 6 months after discharge. Children and their parents will complete surveys to measure physical, social, emotional and function outcomes. A total of 12 families will be interviewed at 1 and 3 months after PICU discharge. Using the data provided to map out any trend or changes in this information over time. Why is this study important? To better understand the experience and health consequences of children and their parents in the first six months after PICU admission. This information would help to identify potential areas to improve the negative consequence of children and their families after a severe illness. Results will be shared to the PICU survivors and their families, national organizations, international pediatric intensive care community to improve the experiences and health outcomes following a PICU admission.

Who can participate

Age range

1 Month – 70 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Child inclusion criteria: * Aged 1 month to 18 years at the point of PICU admission * PICU total length of stay (LOS) ≥ 48 hours at the point of PICU discharge Parents inclusion criteria: * (a) Parent or legal guardian; (b) cohabits with the child * For the family home to be the planned location following hospital discharge. Exclusion Criteria: * Opted for a "Do Not Resuscitate" status for their child and/or * Had participated in the current study in a previous PICU admission within the recruitment period.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1This study tracked how kids' quality of life changed from the time they left the PICU up to 6 months later — has my child's care team looked at findings like these to understand what recovery might look like for them after a PICU stay?
2Since this trial is already completed, are there published results from it that you could share with us, and what do those results suggest about which children had the hardest time recovering after critical illness?
3The study used a tool called the PedsQL to measure quality of life — is that something my child's team uses or could use to track how they're doing physically, emotionally, and socially after intensive care?
4Post Intensive Care Unit Syndrome is one of the conditions this study focused on — how common is this in children with conditions like my child's, and what support or follow-up should we be asking for to address it?
5Given that this was an observational study in Singapore describing recovery patterns rather than testing a treatment, how do its findings apply to my child's specific situation and what they might experience after a PICU stay?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

To describe and compare the change in total score of the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory Version 4.0 (PedsQL™) in children at baseline from 6 months after PICU discharge.

Timeframe: baseline and 6 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT04637113

SponsorKK Women's and Children's Hospital

Sponsor typeOTHER_GOV

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2023-12-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Pediatric ALL trials