Post-Pediatric Intensive Care Follow-Up: Combined Perspectives of Patients, Parents, and Healthcare Professionals

OBJECTIVES: To explore the perspectives of healthcare professionals and the experience of families concerning post-PICU follow-up to identify key points for the further development of these programs. DESIGN: Qualitative study. SETTING: PICUs in France involved in post-PICU patient follow-up. SUBJECTS: Sixteen healthcare professionals involved in post-PICU follow-up at 11 centers, and 18 family participants in enrolled in longitudinal post-PICU follow-up at a tertiary center, took part in semi-structured interviews and observations from January 2022 to June 2024. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Three main themes emerged. First, therapeutic alliance as a cornerstone: families stressed the importance of maintaining relationships with PICU professionals throughout follow-up, which facilitated recovery and helped them deal with periods of doubt. Second, professional commitment despite institutional constraints: healthcare providers were highly motivated to maintain follow-up programs despite limited resources. Third, barriers to follow-up engagement: families reported a financial burden, and emotional challenges related to traumatic memories during consultations. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights the need for structured support for post-PICU follow-up programs that take account of both institutional constraints and family needs. The work suggests that maintenance of the therapeutic relationships established during the PICU stay is crucial for successful follow-up. Future guidelines should address resource allocation and accessibility while preserving the human dimension of care.