Creating a support program for parents of critically ill children in the PICU
Official title: Building and testing feasibility of EMPOWER, a skill-based psychosocial intervention for parents of critically ill children
Funded at Central Michigan University · NIH-11109405 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new program called EMPOWER to help parents of kids in the pediatric intensive care unit feel better and more confident during this tough time, so they can better support their child's recovery and take care of their own mental health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Central Michigan University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Mount Pleasant, United States) |
| Project start | May 23, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $169,776 |
| NIH project number | 5K23HD108319-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11109405 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are parents of children aged 0-11 years who are currently admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit.
✕Less likely to help
Parents of children who are not admitted to the PICU or those whose children are older than 11 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing and testing a new psychosocial intervention called EMPOWER, designed specifically for parents of children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The program aims to address the mental health challenges and self-efficacy issues that parents face during this traumatic experience. By collaborating with PICU stakeholders and utilizing a structured framework, the research will adapt existing evidence-based components to create a supportive environment for parents. The ultimate goal is to enhance parents' ability to support their child's recovery while also improving their own mental well-being.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide parents with effective tools and support to cope with the stress of having a critically ill child, ultimately improving both their mental health and their child's recovery.
How similar studies have gone: While there is a recognized need for psychosocial interventions for parents in similar situations, this specific approach is novel and aims to fill a gap identified in previous research.
Where this research is happening
-
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yagiela, Lauren — Central Michigan University
- Study coordinator: Yagiela, Lauren
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Empowering Parents of Critically Ill Children with a quick, family-focused support program
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Teleconsultation to Improve Safety for Critically Ill Infants and Children Before hospital arrival
A national study tests whether remote pediatric expert advice during ambulance transport reduces harm to critically ill babies and kids.
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Patient-ventilator Asynchrony in Critically Ill Children
This grant explores how often and why mechanically ventilated children have mismatches between their own breathing efforts and the ventilator, with the goal of making ventilation safer and more comfortable for kids.
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Patient-ventilator asynchrony in critically ill children
A study to understand when ventilators don’t perfectly match a child’s breathing needs and how this affects recovery.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.