IMPACT OF CRITICAL ILLNESS ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS OF CHILDREN WHO SURVIVED MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN THE PAEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT OF CHRISTIAN MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL, VELLORE

A study was conducted in PICU,CMC Vellore to assess the impact of critical illness on the psychological distress in children who survived mechanical ventilation.The study was conceptualised using the Roy's Adaptation Model (“(PDF) Roy Adaptation Model,” n.d.). self reporting questionnaire developed by Jannet E Rennick,Childrens critical illness impact scale used in assessing the level of psychological distress of children. Pilot study was conducted to check the feasibility of the study, sample selection, and applicability of the tool in Indian scenario. The data for the main study was collected over a period of 6 weeks in Selected Paediatric wards and child heath OPD in CMC, Vellore. Total enumerative sampling method was used to select samples who fit the inclusion criteria. Data analysis was done for descriptive and inferential statistics using the statistical application, SPSS version 21.0 . The major findings were ,majority of the children were in the age group of 6-8 years and 11-12 years(35.9%), 60.9% were boys, and most were practicing Hindu religion (60.9%), majority (71.9%) were studying in middle school.Respiratory illness is the primary reason (40.6%) for mechanical ventilation, followed by Infection (26.6%). 92.2% of the children were emergency admissions, with 82.8% of children with no pre-existing co morbidities.78.8% were on invasive mechanical ventilation and 60.9%were intubated for more than 48 hours.