The meaning of personal diaries to children and families in the paediatric intensive care unit: A qualitative study

Diaries were used after discharge as a support for both children and families and played a role in making the paediatric intensive care experience meaningful by providing explanations and coherence. The findings suggest that a diary can serve as a catalyst for the coping process of the family unit. Findings also confirm how the children's memories are characterised by a sense of unreality. The diary could thus help fill in some of the missing picture to support the children in understanding their story.