Discharge readiness among parents of children in the pediatric intensive care unit: implication for nursing strategies

Enhancing parental discharge readiness is crucial for optimizing the prognosis of pediatric patients. This study aimed to evaluate the discharge readiness of parents with children in the pediatric Intensive Care Unit (ICU), thereby providing evidence-based insights to improve nursing care practices. Parents of pediatric patients admitted to the pediatric ICU of our hospital between December 2024 and May 2025 were enrolled. Their personal characteristics and discharge readiness were assessed, and correlation analysis along with multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify potential influencing factors. A total of 228 parents were enrolled. The mean overall discharge readiness score was 152.16 ± 18.05, with a mean item score of 6.94 ± 1.16. Correlation analysis showed significant associations between discharge readiness and parental relationship to the child (mother/father; r = 0.586), age (r = -0.563), education level (r = 0.620), place of residence (r = 0.595), and monthly personal income (r = 0.561; all p < 0.05). Multiple linear regression confirmed these five factors as independent predictors of discharge readiness (mother vs. father: p = 0.024; parental age: p = 0.017; education level: p = 0.029; urban vs. rural residence: p = 0.033; monthly income [per 1,000 RMB]: p = 0.008). The model explained 41% of the variance in discharge readiness scores (adjusted R² = 0.41), with no significant multicollinearity (all VIF < 2). Parents of pediatric patients in the pediatric ICU exhibit low levels of discharge readiness. These findings offer preliminary references for healthcare professionals to address key influencing factors, with further validation in broader settings needed.