Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)
Date of Award
Fall 12-2025
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)
Advisor(s)
Cathy L. Rozmus, PhD
Second Advisor
Carina Katigbak, PhD
Third Advisor
Kevin M. Roy, M.D.
Abstract
Background: Parents of children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) encounter multiple stressors; however, there is a need to further understand their experiences with financial toxicity. Understanding parents’ experiences and perspectives on how they can be assisted is a critical first step to formulating interventions to help parents deal with financial toxicity.
Aims: The aims of this study are (a) to describe the experiences with financial toxicity of parents with critically ill children admitted to the PICU and (b) to explore parents’ perspectives on how they can be assisted in dealing with financial toxicity.
Methods: A phenomenological qualitative research approach using semi-structured one-to-one interviews, observations, and clinical notes were used to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences with financial toxicity of parents whose child is admitted to the PICU. Data were analyzed using qualitative analytic methods.
Results: Four major themes emerged in the data including the sources of financial toxicity, the parents' actions to address the financial toxicity, the alleviating factors, and the meaning of financial toxicity. Parents encounter pressures from the expenses they incur during their child’s ICU stay which they attempt to counterbalance with multiple financial actions.
Conclusion: Financial toxicity is prevalent and severely affects parents with a child admitted to the PICU. Parents’ experience with financial toxicity contributes to their mental distress.
Recommended Citation
Sardual, Sohrab Alexander, "Parental Experiences with Financial Toxicity in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: A Phenomenological Research" (2025). Dissertations & Theses (Open Access). 73.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthson_etd/73
Keywords
Financial toxicity, financial burden, financial challenges, Pediatric ICU, parents