Parents' lived experiences of their child's undergoing emergence delirium during anaesthesia recovery: a descriptive phenomenological study

Aim: To explore parents' experience when their children underwent emergence delirium during anaesthesia recovery. Design: A descriptive phenomenological qualitative study. Methods and Setting: This descriptive phenomenological study was conducted at a medical center in Taiwan. Purposive sampling was employed, and a semi-structured interview guide was used to conduct in-depth interviews. Twelve parents whose children experienced emergence delirium were recruited after data saturation was reached. Data were collected between January and July 2024 and analysed using Colaizzi's seven-step method. Findings: Parents underwent an unexpected journey characterised by emotional ups and downs when witnessing their child's emergence delirium. Four major themes were generated, including ‘unexpected chaos’, describing the disorienting situation parents experienced when confronted with their child's unfamiliar behaviours; ‘help beyond reach’, reflecting their inability to provide comfort despite being physically present; ‘a day of suffering’, highlighting the emotional overwhelm during the emergence delirium episode; and ‘appreciation after recovery’, illustrating their relief and gratitude once their child returned to baseline. These themes reveal the intense emotional fluctuations parents experience during this critical phase. Conclusions: This study highlights the complex emotional fluctuations parents experience when facing their child's emergence delirium. The findings emphasise the need for anticipatory guidance and support strategies to better prepare parents and inform family-centred nursing practices. Impact: This study addresses a gap regarding the emotional challenges experienced by East Asian parents when their child undergoes emergence delirium. The findings reveal complex parental distress shaped by internal worry and external social pressure in shared recovery spaces. These insights inform culturally sensitive care models, emphasising the importance of private environments and communication strategies that reduce parental stress and improve clinical support. Patient or Public Contribution: Two parents reviewed and provided feedback on the interview content and results, improving cultural relevance and clarity. Reporting Method: The study followed COREQ guidelines.