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Research Snapshot Theater: Patient and Family Support, Pediatric I

Navigating the Aftermath: Parent Reflections on Care After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Monday, March 23, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Central Time
Location: Connections Central - RST 09
  • SG

    Suzanne Gouda, MD

    Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose.

  • Emily J. Upham, BS (she/her/hers)

    Boston Children’s Hospital

    Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose.

  • JS

    Jennifer Snaman, MD, MS

    Assistant Professor
    Boston Children's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard University

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • AR

    Abby Rosenberg, MD, MS, MA

    Director, Pediatric Palliative Care
    Boston Children's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard University

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • DD

    Danielle D. DeCourcey, MD, MPH

    Assistant Professor
    Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School

    Disclosure information not submitted.

Introduction: Children who experience an Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) face high risks of death and chronic morbidity. Their families often endure significant psychological distress during and after hospitalization. While early Pediatric Palliative Care (PPC) integration has been shown to improve child and family outcomes for other serious illness populations, PPC is rarely utilized following OHCA, and may play a critical role in supporting families through this traumatic event.


Methods: We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with parents of children who experienced OHCA and received care at a single-center urban tertiary care Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Parents of both survivors and non-survivors and those whose children did or did not receive PPC were recruited. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed utilizing NVivo. Thematic analysis was performed, and transcripts were coded independently by two coders to ensure reliability.


Results: A total of 15 parent interviews were conducted with both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking parents, the majority of whom were mothers. Key themes emerged related to the emotional and logistical challenges of PICU admission, the burden of medical decision-making, communication with care teams, and the transition home for both bereaved parents and parents of children with new or increased medical complexity. Parents also shared their perspectives on PPC, including the benefits and potential burdens of involvement. However, many noted that optimal timing for PPC involvement was not during the initial crisis, but rather once “the dust settles.”


Conclusions: Parents identified significant and often unmet care needs during and after hospitalization for pediatric OHCA. While PPC was seen as beneficial, its timing and integration require thoughtful consideration. Our findings suggest that gaps in care delivery may be addressed through tailored PPC involvement, and support further exploration of early, family-centered PPC integration into post-OHCA care pathways.