Fathersʼ participation in the care of hospitalized child in pediatric intensive care unit on fathersʼ stress and coping strategies

Hospitalization of a child in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is a very stressful experience for parents. High stress in father can product decline in psychological adaptation and associated problems. The present study aimed to determine effect of fathersʼ participation in the care of hospitalized child in PICU on fathersʼ stress and coping strategies. This is a clinical trial with 60 fathers with children admitted to the PICU in intervention and control groups. Fathers in intervention group، participated in the care of the child in 5 times، during a 5-days course. Fathersʼ stress and coping strategies were surveyed in intervention group before and after participation course and in control group before and after a 5-days course. Fathersʼ stress in intervention group decreased significantly after participation (p˂0/001) but in control group difference was not significant after time course. Fathers in both groups applied similar coping strategies that majority were emotion focused. Fathers having children in PICU would experience a lot of stress. Their participation in the care of the children would be very effective to decline their stress and reach most adaptation with disease، cure and cares in children.