Parents' knowledge and attitudes towards extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and their post-traumatic stress symptoms

TL;DR

This study explores parents' understanding of ECMO treatment for their children and their stress symptoms, finding that lower education levels are linked to higher stress and inadequate knowledge.

Contribution

The study identifies specific demographic factors associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms and inadequate knowledge among parents of ECMO-treated children.

Findings

Parents with lower education levels showed higher post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Structural equation modeling revealed direct effects between residence, education, and employment status.

The study highlights the need for educational resources and psychosocial support for these parents.

Abstract

This cross-sectional study, conducted between January 2020 and July 2023, aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among parents with children undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment. Out of 201 valid questionnaires collected, the median knowledge score was 3.00, the mean attitude score was 27.00 ± 3.20, and the mean PTSS score was 3.50 ± 1.54. Logistic regression identified associations between PTSS and parents with lower education levels, particularly junior high school and high school/technical secondary school education, as well as those occupied as housewives. Structural equation modeling highlighted direct effects, such as the impact of residence on education, education on employment status, and associations between knowledge, attitude, PTSS, employment status, monthly income, and parental demographics. The findings indicated inadequate knowledge and suboptimal attitudes among parents, especially those with lower education levels, emphasizing the need for educational resources. Furthermore, addressing parental PTSS through psychosocial support and screening was deemed essential, providing valuable insights for tailored interventions in this context.

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