Effects of parent-provider communication during infant hospitalization in the NICU on parents: A systematic review with meta-synthesis and narrative synthesis

Parents' information needs during the first year at home with their very premature born child; a qualitative study

Objective

To obtain insights into parents' information needs during the first year at home with their very preterm (VP) born infant.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured interviews with parents of VP infants participating in a post-discharge responsive parenting intervention (TOP program). Online interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Inductive thematic analysis was performed by two independent coders.

Results

Ten participants were interviewed and had various and changing information needs during the developmental trajectory of their infant. Three main themes emerged; (1) Help me understand and cope, (2) Be fully responsible for my baby, and (3) Teach me to do it myself. Available and used sources, such as the Internet, did not meet their information needs. Participants preferred their available and knowledgeable healthcare professionals for reassurance, tailored information, and practical guidance.

Conclusion

This study identified parents' information needs during the first year at home with their VP infant and uncovered underlying re-appearing needs to gain confidence in child-caring abilities and autonomy in decision-making about their infants' care.

Innovation

This study provides valuable information for healthcare professionals and eHealth developers to support parental self-efficacy during the first year after preterm birth.

Mind the gap: Comparing parents' information needs about impending preterm birth to current clinical practices using a mixed methods approach

Objective

To identify parents' information needs about impending very preterm birth and compare these needs to current information practices in the Netherlands.

Methods

Step 1: We surveyed N = 203 parents of preterm infants to assess their information needs. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Step 2a: We collected information resources from hospitals (N = 9 NICUs) and via an online search. These materials were analyzed using deductive thematic analysis. Step 2b: We compared findings from Steps 1-2a.

Results

We identified four themes pertaining to parents' information needs: (1) participation in care, (2) emotional wellbeing, (3) experience/success stories, and (4) practical information about prematurity. Clinicians' communicative skills and time were considered prerequisites for optimal information-provision. Notably, hospital resources provided mainly medical information about prematurity with some emphasis on participation in care, while parent associations mainly focused on emotional wellbeing and experience/success stories.

Conclusion

While parents demonstrate clear information needs about impending very preterm birth, current information resources satisfy these partially.

Innovation

Our multidisciplinary research team included both scholars and veteran NICU parents. As such, we identified parents' information needs bottom-up. These parent-driven insights will be used to design an innovative, tailored information platform for parents about impending very preterm birth.

Mobile-enhanced Family Integrated Care for preterm infants: A qualitative study of parents' views

Objective

The Family Integrated Care (FICare) model improves outcomes for preterm infants and parents compared with family-centered care (FCC). FICare with mobile technology (mFICare) may improve uptake and impact. Research on FICare in the United States (US) is scarce and little is known about parents' experience.

Methods

We conducted qualitative interviews with nine parents, exploring their NICU experiences, participation in and perceptions of the mFICare program. A directed content analysis approach was used, and common themes were derived from the data.

Results

Overall, parents had positive NICU experiences and found mFICare helpful in meeting three common parenting priorities: actively caring for their infant, learning how to care for their infant, and learning about the clinical status of their infant. They described alignment and misalignment with mFICare components relative to their personal parenting priorities and offered suggestions for improvement. Nurses were noted to play key roles in providing or facilitating parent support and encouragement to participate in mFICare and parenting activities.

Conclusion

The mFICare program showed potential for parental acceptance and participation in US NICUs.

Innovation

The mFICare model is an innovation in neonatal care that can advance the consistent delivery of NICU family-centered care planning and caregiving.Clinical Trial Registration:NCT03418870 01/02/2018.

Parent Perspectives on Communication Quality in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

BACKGROUND

Though prior literature has demonstrated that communication in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) needs to be improved, in-depth descriptions of parents' views of NICU communication are lacking.

PURPOSE

We sought (1) to explore parent perceptions of communication in the NICU and (2) to understand parents' communication needs and preferences.

METHODS

We conducted in-depth semi-structured cognitive interviews utilizing concurrent probes with parents of 10 patients in our urban level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit over a period of 4 months (July 2021-October 2021). Interview questions were derived from the Quality of Communication scale. We conducted thematic analysis of interview transcripts modeled after work by Braun and Clarke.

RESULTS

Four overarching themes were identified: Strengths, Challenges, People, and Coping Strategies. Parents reported a range of communication quality in the NICU. Results revealed that the first 48 hours of NICU hospitalization represent a period of vulnerability and uncertainty for parents. Parents value clear yet hopeful communication about a baby's clinical status and expected course.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH

We hope that the concrete findings from this study can both inform practice in the NICU now and influence practice guidelines to include such components as emphasis on the first 48 hours, desire for proactive information sharing, and the importance of including hope.

'Not a goal, but a given': Neonatal care participation through parents' perspective, a cross-sectional study

AIM

To explore parents' perspectives regarding participation in neonatal care, with focus on the family integrated care (FICare) model utilised as a tool to enhance parent-infant closeness. Additionally, we describe experiences in different architectural settings.

METHODS

An online survey, categorised by four FICare pillars, was distributed through social media to parents of newborns hospitalised to Dutch neonatal wards between 2015 and 2020. Quantitative findings were summarised using descriptive statistics, while open-ended responses were thematically analysed.

RESULTS

Among the 344 respondents (98% mothers), most reported feeling involved in care (315/340). However, 79% also felt separated from their infant (265/337). Irrespective of architectural settings, parents reported incomplete implementation of FICare pillars: 14% was invited to educational sessions (parent education), 51% discussed family-specific care plans (staff education), 21% was facilitated in connecting with veteran parents (psychosocial support) and 22% received couplet-care (environment). Although 65% of parents were invited to attend clinical rounds, 32% actively participated in decision making. Thematic analysis revealed fundamentals for feeling welcome on the ward, peer-to-peer support, psychosocial support and participation in clinical rounds.

CONCLUSION

Overall, parents expressed satisfaction with participation in neonatal care. However, structural implementation of FICare lacks. Regardless of architecture, expanding parent participation beyond presence requires attention.

Parental experiences of caring for preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit, Limpopo Province: a descriptive qualitative study exploring the cultural determinants

BACKGROUND

Parent-infant interaction is highly recommended during the preterm infant hospitalisation period in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Integrating culturally sensitive healthcare during hospitalisation of preterm infants is critical for positive health outcomes. However, there is still a paucity of evidence on parental experience regarding cultural practices that can be integrated into preterm infant care in the NICU. The study explored and described the cultural determinants of parents that can be integrated into the care of preterm infants in the NICU.

METHODS

A descriptive qualitative research design was followed where twenty (n=20) parents of preterm infants were purposively selected. The study was conducted in the NICU in Limpopo using in-depth individual interviews. Taguette software and a thematic analysis framework were used to analyse the data. The COREQ guidelines and checklist were employed to ensure reporting standardisation.

RESULTS

Four themes emerged from the thematic analysis: 1) Lived experienced by parents of preterm infants, 2) Interactions with healthcare professionals, 3) Cultural practices concerning preterm infant care, and 4) Indigenous healthcare practices for preterm infants.

CONCLUSIONS

The study emphasised a need for healthcare professionals to understand the challenges parents of preterm infants face in NICU care. Furthermore, healthcare professionals should know indigenous healthcare practices to ensure relevant, culturally sensitive care.

Family integrated care: State of art and future perspectives

Family integrated care (FICare) represents a contemporary approach to health care that involves the active participation of families within the healthcare team. It empowers families to acquire knowledge about the specialised care required for their newborns admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and positions them as primary caregivers. Healthcare professionals in this model act as mentors and facilitators during the hospitalisation period. This innovative model has exhibited notable enhancements in both short- and long-term health outcomes for neonates, alongside improved psychological well-being for families and heightened satisfaction among healthcare professionals. Initially designed for stable premature infants and their families, FICare has evolved to include critically ill premature and full-term infants. Findings from recent studies affirm the safety and feasibility of FICare as a NICU-wide model of care, benefiting all infants and families. The envisioned expansion of FICare focusses on sustainability and extending its implementation, recognising the necessity for tailored adaptations to suit varying diverse cultural and socio-economic contexts.

Collaborative Care and Healthcare Usage in Families with Pediatric Patients During COVID-19: A Secondary Analysis of National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) Data

One of the most detrimental side effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is the needed but not received care. Forgone health care affects the general public, but particularly children with special care needs. Previous research focused on non-modifiable factors, such as demographic background and insurance coverage. Based on Politi and Street's model of collaborative decision-making, we explored how two modifiable communication factors contributed to the prevention of forgone pediatric care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a nationally representative sample (n = 10845) from the 2020 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) survey, we found that health-care providers' family-centered communication and shared decision-making may reduce the possibility of forgone care through improved satisfaction with providers' communication. For children with mental health needs, providers' family-centered communication may also stimulate family's capacity to openly communicate, leading to better involvement in care and timely health care seeking. This helps to address COVID-related uncertainty, prevent higher health-care expenditures, and reduce negative health outcomes.

Improving Parental Knowledge of Medically Complex Neonates Through Scheduled Conferences

Reports of parental dissatisfaction from incomplete or inconsistent information led to a quality improvement (QI) project to establish planned family conferences at 10 days and 1 month of life, for 50% of the medically complex neonates admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit within 1 year. A QI team instituted a system in which social workers scheduled family conferences and a neonatologist conducted the conferences. Team members tracked measures using statistical process control charts over 21 months. The QI team scheduled conferences for greater than 80% of eligible families, with an 86% completion rate on days 10 and 30, exceeding project goals of 50%. The majority of the families surveyed were satisfied with the meetings. Only 2% of parents surveyed found meetings burdensome, compared to 14% of physicians. A sustainable method for scheduling meetings and preparation for conferences, including the use of a template led to success.

"You Have to Find a Way for This Child to Be at the Center": Pediatric Cardiologists' Views on Triadic Communication in Consultations on Congenital Heart Defects

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are present at birth and require ongoing management of personal, family, and medical aspects of care, including communication between family and medical staff. Effective communication is considered one of the main objectives of patient-centered care. Communication in pediatric medicine is especially challenging because it includes children and their parent(s), and children's cognitive and communication skills are still developing. Based on the model of behavior in pediatric communication , this study focused on pediatric cardiologists' views of the roles of children, parents, and physicians in the triadic encounter and their experiences in communicating information on pediatric CHDs in medical encounters. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 experienced pediatric cardiologists and cardiac surgeons (five women and 12 men) at three medical centers in Israel. The grounded theory approach was used to identify three main categories: (1) the positioning (centrality) of the child in the setting (ideal vs. actual situation), (2) addressing parents' emotional needs, and (3) the physician's role as mediator between parent(s) and child. In each category, three elements are discussed: The physician's agenda, obstacles and challenges, and the physician's practical methods. Physicians strongly support children's involvement in triadic encounters yet face challenges in effectively integrating them into the information exchange process during cardiology consultations. Struggling to balance the principles of patient- and family-centered care, and without clear guidelines, they rely on their personal beliefs and experiences to formulate communication strategies that address parents' and children's needs.

A Systematic Review of Psycho-Spiritual Interventions in the NICU: Supporting Parents' Mental Health and Psychological Well-Being

BACKGROUND

The presence of psychospiritual supports and interventions for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) parents is unclear.

PURPOSE

This systematic review examines the psychological and medical literature for psychospiritual interventions designed to support parents' mental health and psychological well-being during or after the NICU experience.

DATA SOURCES

Data sources include PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library (Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) with peer-reviewed studies published between 2013 and 2023.

STUDY SELECTION

Peer-reviewed studies that included spiritual and psychological intervention components focused on supporting parents during or after the NICU were included for this systematic review. There were 42 records located in 3 databases ultimately yielding 4 peer-reviewed studies that met inclusion criteria. Articles must have been written in English and evaluate parents'/caregivers' mental health/psychological well-being in relation to a psychospiritual intervention.

DATA EXTRACTION

Because of the small number of studies, article summaries are provided within the results section and were written by the first author with approval by the second and third authors.

RESULTS

Results indicated that when psychological (focus on coping) and spiritual components were included psychological and well-being outcomes were better for NICU parents.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH

The inclusion of psychological and spiritual aspects of coping and supportive care is necessary for the best family-centered NICU care. More work needs to be done to develop psychospiritual supports and include fathers in these endeavors as most work occurs with mothers. Nurses need support and training to facilitate family-centered care with a focus on parents' psychospiritual needs.

Modifications in family centered developmental care and in neonatal intensive care during the COVID-19 pandemic in a hospital in Spain: A qualitative study

INTRODUCTION

Family centered developmental care (FCDC) are a philosophy of care in the neonatal care units (NICU), based on the control of sensory stimulation the adequate position and of newborn and the family involvement of cares. Nursing staff are the main providers of this care. Sanitary measure to control of the COVID-19, such as the use of masks, isolation of positive cases and capacity limit, conditioned the implementation of FCDC.

OBJECTIVES

To understand the meaning of the experience of the nursing staff of a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) on the implementation of the FCDC, under the sanitary measures imposed for the containment of COVID-19.

METHODS

A qualitative study was conducted from the descriptive phenomenological paradigm in which NICU nurses were recruited. The qualitative data collection was carried out through open-ended and semi-structured interviews. These were analyzed respectively through a preliminary narrative analysis and a thematic analysis of the informant nurses' narratives and discourses.

RESULTS

Three open-ended and 7 semi-structured interviews were conducted from which three main topics emerged: 1) changes in the FCDC derived from the sanitary restrictions implemented for the containment of COVID-19; 2) changes in interpersonal relationships in the context of a pandemic, and 3) transition to normality.

CONCLUSIONS

The nurses of NICU perceived changes in the implementation of the FCDC due to the containment of COVID-19, that modified the relationship with the parents of NB, accelerating their training as caregivers, and involved the implementation of new measures such as video calls.

Close Collaboration with Parents-Implementation and effectiveness

AIM

There has been a need to develop programs to facilitate family-centered care. This paper describes the content of a program called Close Collaboration with Parents, its implementation, and research on its effectiveness.

METHODS

The program is a systematic training with a focus on staff communication and observation skills and skills to support parenting. The primary implementation strategy is mentoring. Staff engage in bedside practices and reflections with mentors covering all four phases of the program. The effects of this unit-wide program have been evaluated using a pre-post study design, a qualitative study design, and a register-based study design.

RESULTS

The program has been successfully implemented in 26 units so far. Our research has shown that the training benefits infants, parents, staff, and healthcare organisations. Specifically, family-centered care practices improved after the program, the parents' presence and parent-infant skin-to-skin contact increased, infant growth improved and the length of hospital stays shortened. The mothers' depressive symptoms decreased in the long term.

CONCLUSION

We have described an educational program for the multidisciplinary staff of a neonatal intensive care unit, Close Collaboration with Parents. The program has changed hospital care cultures for the benefit of infants, parents, staff, and even the healthcare organisation.

Optimistic vs Pessimistic Message Framing in Communicating Prognosis to Parents of Very Preterm Infants: The COPE Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

In the neonatal intensive care unit, there is a lack of understanding about how best to communicate the prognosis of a serious complication to parents.

Objective

To examine parental preferences and the effects of optimistic vs pessimistic message framing when providing prognostic information about a serious complication.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This crossover randomized clinical trial was conducted at a single German university medical center between June and October 2021. Eligible participants were parents of surviving preterm infants with a birth weight under 1500 g. Data were analyzed between October 2021 and August 2022.

Interventions

Alternating exposure to 2 scripted video vignettes showing a standardized conversation between a neonatologist and parents, portrayed by professional actors, about the prognosis of a hypothetical very preterm infant with severe intraventricular hemorrhage. The video vignettes differed in the framing of identical numerical outcome estimates as either probability of survival and probability of nonimpairment (optimistic framing) or a risk of death and impaired survival (pessimistic framing).

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was preference odds (ratio of preference for optimistic vs pessimistic framing). Secondary outcomes included state anxiety, perceptions of communication, and recall of numerical estimates.

Results

Of 220 enrolled parents (142 [64.5%] mothers; mean [SD] age: mothers, 39.1 [5.6] years; fathers, 42.7 [6.9] years), 196 (89.1%) preferred optimistic and 24 (10.1%) preferred pessimistic framing (preference odds, 11.0; 95% CI, 6.28-19.10; P < .001). Preference for optimistic framing was more pronounced when presented second than when presented first (preference odds, 5.41; 95% CI, 1.77-16.48; P = .003). State anxiety scores were similar in both groups at baseline (mean difference, -0.34; -1.18 to 0.49; P = .42) and increased equally after the first video (mean difference, -0.55; 95% CI, -1.79 to 0.69; P = .39). After the second video, state anxiety scores decreased when optimistic framing followed pessimistic framing but remained unchanged when pessimistic framing followed optimistic framing (mean difference, 2.15; 95% CI, 0.91 to 3.39; P < .001). With optimistic framing, participants recalled numerical estimates more accurately for survival (odds ratio, 4.00; 95% CI, 1.64-9.79; P = .002) but not for impairment (odds ratio, 1.50; 95% CI, 0.85-2.63; P = .16).

Conclusions and Relevance

When given prognostic information about a serious complication, parents of very preterm infants may prefer optimistic framing. Optimistic framing may lead to more realistic expectations for survival, but not for impairment.

Trial Registration

German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS): DRKS00024466.

Predictors of Improvement in Parental Stress After the First Three Months at Home with a Medically Fragile Infant

OBJECTIVES

Little is known about the early stress experiences of parents of infants with serious life-limiting/life-threatening conditions during the initial months after discharge from hospital. The aim of the study was to measure change, and predictors of change, in parenting stress at the time of transition from hospital to home (T1) with a medically fragile infant, and after a 3-month period (T2).

METHODS

Parents of infants identified as meeting ≥ 1 palliative care referral criterion were recruited in a Midwestern United States tertiary pediatric hospital (2012-2014) within 2 weeks of hospital discharge. A repeated measures design was used to assess change on a validated parenting stress inventory over the two timepoints (T1 and T2). Fifty-two parents (61 infants) participated at T1 and 44 (85%) at T2.

RESULTS

On discharge (T1) stress was moderately high 3 months post discharge (T2) overall and domain-specific stress scores improved, except stress related to parent role functioning and participation in their child's medical care. Independent predictors of improvement in overall parenting stress scores (T2-T1) were being a younger parent and having experienced prior pregnancy-related loss.

CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE

The time of discharge from hospital to home is often stressful for parents of medically fragile infants. Improvements were found during the first 3 months at home, but improvement was minimal for stress related to role function and providing medical care. Past experience with pregnancy-related loss and being younger were associated with improvement in stress across theoretical domains. Screening for stress should be included as part of routine pre- and post-neonatal intensive care unit discharge psychosocial assessments of parents caring for infants with serious illness to ensure their unique support needs continue to be met over time.

Neonatal nurses' educational needs in a family-centered partnership program: Five ways of knowing

BACKGROUND

Partnerships between parents and nurses are essential to provide comprehensive family-centered care (FCC) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to identify the educational needs of neonatal nurses to develop a family-centered partnership program with parents based on five ways of knowing.

DESIGN

We conducted focus group interviews with 18 NICU nurses working at a tertiary hospital. Data were analyzed using inductive content analysis.

METHOD

Data were collected from February to March 2023 through semi-structured interviews and then carefully transcribed and analyzed using a qualitative content analysis approach.

RESULTS

We used Carper and Chinn and Kramer's five ways of knowing as a framework for data analysis. Twelve categories emerged: staying updated with evidence-based practice, recognizing FCC, practicing neonatal nursing skills and participating in continued education and professional development (empirical knowledge); engaging in self-reflection and expressing therapeutic empathy (personal knowledge); fostering effective communication and leading cooperative readership, building integrity (esthetic knowledge); maintaining ethical responsibility (ethical knowledge); and developing collaborative teamwork, growing cultural competence (emancipatory knowledge).

CONCLUSIONS

This study could be used as a foundation for enhancing NICU nurses' partnerships with parents based on FCC and nurses' educational needs and preferences.

Investigation of predictor factors of the nursing students attitudes toward parents' participation in care

PURPOSE

A positive attitude toward family-centered care practices should be developed in undergraduate education. This study aimed to investigate nursing students' attitudes toward parental participation in child patient care and the factors that influence it.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study data were collected from the nursing department of a university located in the west of Turkey. The study was conducted with 260 nursing students. The descriptive Features Form, Family-Centered Care Practices Form, and Parental Participation Attitude Scale were used in data collection.

RESULTS

The students' average parental participation attitude in care scores was at a moderate level. It has been determined that gender, hospitalization experience, education on family-centered care, and support from instructors in family-centered care practices had a positive effect on the student's attitudes toward parental participation in care (p < 0.05). The regression analysis showed gender and family-centered care education as predictors of student' attitudes toward parent participation in care.

CONCLUSIONS

It was found that students' attitudes toward parental participation in the care of child patients were at an indecision level and not at the desired grade, and it was affected by gender, hospitalization experience, education, and instructor support.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The development of family-centered care practices should begin in nursing education. It is recommended that detailed attention be given to topics related to family-centered care in nursing education, and seminars be organized on this subject. Thus, nursing students can both develop a positive attitude toward family-centered care and learn to work together with the family.

Supporting Disclosure of Unmet Mental Health Needs among Parents of Critically Ill Infants

OBJECTIVE

To characterize (1) the prevalence of mental health discussion and (2) facilitators of and barriers to parent disclosure of mental health needs to clinicians.

STUDY DESIGN

Parents of infants with neurologic conditions in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units participated in a longitudinal decision-making study from 2018 through 2020. Parents completed semi-structured interviews upon enrollment, within 1 week after a conference with providers, at discharge, and 6 months post-discharge. We used a conventional content analysis approach and NVIVO 12 to analyze data related to mental health.

RESULTS

We enrolled 61 parents (n = 40 mothers, n = 21 fathers) of 40 infants with neurologic conditions in the intensive care unit. In total, 123 interviews were conducted with 52 of these parents (n = 37 mothers, n = 15 fathers). Over two-thirds of parents (n = 35/52, 67%) discussed their mental health in a total of 61 interviews. We identified two key domains when approaching the data through the lens of mental health: (1) self-reported barriers to communicating mental health needs: parents shared uncertainty about the presence or benefit of support, a perceived lack of mental health resources and emotional support, and concerns about trust; (2) self-reported facilitators and benefits of communicating mental health needs: parents described the value of supportive team members, connecting to peer support, and speaking to a mental health professional or neutral third party.

CONCLUSIONS

Parents of critically ill infants are at high risk of unmet mental health needs. Our results highlight modifiable barriers and actionable facilitators to inform interventions to improve mental health support for parents of critically ill infants.

Do parents get what they want during bad news delivery in NICU?

OBJECTIVES

Little is known about parents' preferences in breaking bad news (BBN) in neonatology. The study was aimed at comparing parents' experiences with their first BBN discussion with a neonatologist/pediatric surgeon to their personal preferences.

METHODS

We conducted a quantitative survey amongst 54 parents of hospitalized preterm or term infants with severe diseases in two medium-size and one small German neonatal units. Parents answered self-rated questions on how they perceived BBN during their infant's hospital stay, asking for procedure and perception of BBN, their preferences and satisfaction with BBN.

RESULTS

Overall satisfaction with BBN was moderate to high (median (min-max): 8 (1-10) on a 1-10-Likert scale). A compassionate way of disclosure correlated highest with overall satisfaction with BBN. Thorough transmission of information in an easy to understand manner emerged as another crucial point and correlated significantly to satisfaction with BBN, too. The study revealed that it was highly important for parents, that physicians had good knowledge of the infant and the course of his/her disease, which was only met in a minority of cases. Moreover, there was a major discrepancy between expected and observed professional competence of the delivering physicians. Additionally, physicians did not set aside sufficient time for BBN and parents reported a lack of transporting assurance and hope.

CONCLUSIONS

In BBN physicians should draw greatest attention to ensure understanding in parents, with good knowledge of child and disease and sufficient time in a trustworthy manner. Physicians should focus on transporting competence, trust and gentleness.

Does Educational Status Influence Parents' Response to Bad News in the NICU?

Communication in neonatal intensive care units and the relationship between families and staff have been reported to influence parental mental well-being. Research has also shown an impact of parental educational level on their well-being. However, whether different educational levels result in different reactions to breaking bad news (BBN) by physicians remains unanswered so far. We therefore examined the impact of parental level of education on their mental state after a BBN conversation and their relation to physicians. A prospective quantitative survey was conducted amongst 54 parents whose preterm or term infants were hospitalized in three German neonatal units. Parental education was classified as low (lower secondary/less (1), n: 23) or high (higher secondary/more (2), n: 31). Parents answered questions about certain aspects of and their mental state after BBN and their trust in physicians. The two groups did not differ significantly in their mental condition after BBN, with both reporting high levels of exhaustion and worries, each (median (min;max): (1): 16 (6;20) vs. (2): 14 (5;20), (scaling: 5-20)). However, lower-educated parents reported a lower trust in physicians (median (min;max): (1): 2 (0;9) vs. (2): 1 (0;6), p < 0.05 (scaling: 0-10)) and felt less safe during BBN (median (min;max): (1): 15 (9;35) vs. (2): 13 (9;33), p < 0.05). Only among higher-educated parents was trust in physicians significantly correlated with the safety and orientation provided during BBN (r: 0.583, p < 0.05, r: 0.584, p < 0.01). Concurrently, only among less-educated parents was safety correlated with the hope conveyed during BBN (r: 0.763, p < 0.01). Therefore, in BBN discussions with less-educated parents, physicians should focus more on giving them hope to promote safety.

eHealth usage among parents to premature or surgically treated neonates: associations with eHealth literacy, healthcare satisfaction or satisfaction with an eHealth device

BACKGROUND

A specific eHealth device, a surf tablet, was developed for bridging between advanced in-hospital care and children's homes. Since little is known about determinators for parental eHealth usage, the study's aim was to explore if parents' usage of the device was associated with their eHealth literacy, or their satisfaction with their child's healthcare or with the specific surf tablet.

METHODS

In this explorative usage and questionnaire study, parents to neonates who were discharged home after advanced in-hospital care were included. Their surf tablet usage at maximum 30 days after discharge was reported as frequency (%) of active days (usage days/days having the device) and median number of tablet activities (chat and photo) per usage day. eHealth literacy (eHealth Literacy Questionnaire; eHLQ), healthcare satisfaction (PedsQL Healthcare Satisfaction Generic Module), and satisfaction with the surf tablet were explored regarding tablet usage. Statistics were described in median (range) and (%) using non-parametric and regression models (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

Parents to 32 children (11 premature, 21 operated) were included. Active days with eHealth communication using the device was 39% (9.0/29.5), with 2.0 (1.0-4.2) usage occasions per active day. Activity on the tablet was higher among parents reporting to be very satisfied or satisfied with the device (n = 25) compared with neutral/dissatisfied parents (n = 7) (2.8 vs. 2.2 vs. 1.6 activities) (p = 0.030), while their frequency of active days did not differ (31.6% vs. 38.3% vs. 40%) (p = 0.963). A higher eHealth literacy was not associated with frequency of active days (0.926 (0.652-1.317); p = 0.659) or number of eHealth activities (0.973 (0.758-1.250); p = 0.825). Healthcare satisfaction was not associated with higher frequency of active days 0.996 (0.983-1.009; p = 0.519); neither was number of eHealth activities 1.001 (0.991-1.011; p = 0.883).

CONCLUSION

In this study, eHealth usage was associated with parental satisfaction with the specific eHealth device, but not with eHealth literacy or healthcare satisfaction. To assure equal access to healthcare when using eHealth, the user-friendliness of the device seems to be crucial, and technical support needs to be in place.

CLINICALTRIALS

GOV REGISTRATION IDENTIFIER

NCT04150120 (04/11/2019).

The Development of a Communication Tool to Aid Parent-Centered Communication between Parents and Healthcare Professionals: A Quality Improvement Project

Good communication is central to good healthcare. As a result of poor communication between parents and healthcare professionals (HCPs) in clinical settings, this study aimed to address this problem by developing a communication tool to empower parents and act as a prompt for HCPs to talk about the child's care and gather information at the point of admission to hospital about what is important to families, therefore supporting patient-centered communication. A design thinking process was used to develop a physical copy of Chloe's card and evaluate its use. Design thinking is a problem-solving approach, which uses an empathetic lens to integrate viewpoints of different stakeholders throughout the process of creating solutions. Design thinking involves five processes: (1) empathise-including a literature review and data synthesis, (2) define-by completing semi-structured interviews with parents about their experience of communication and HCPs perceptions of parent's experience of communication, (3) ideate-iterate the design of Chloe's card with parents and HCPs, (4) prototype-develop the design of Chloe's card, and (5) test-pilot test in clinical practice. Results from this initial study suggest that a small hand-held card, with emoticons and a place to write concerns, was acceptable to parents and feasible to use in clinical practice. Parents do not always feel heard by HCPs and a tool such as Chloe's card may help facilitate sharing of information about matters important to them and their child. However, some HCPs felt the need for a communication tool undermined their clinical skills. Feedback from HCP participants suggests that the idea of Chloe's card was acceptable and perceived as potentially being useful in clinical practice. Further work is required, as part of a larger study, to further refine this communication tool, identify those parents who would benefit most from Chloe's card, as well as to further refine the HCP process prior to implementing it into clinical settings. It was noted future iterations would benefit from a digital version linked with a child's electronic record, as well as multi-language versions and information for parents.

What matters to families about the healthcare of preterm or low birth weight infants: A qualitative evidence synthesis

OBJECTIVE

We examined what matters to families about the healthcare provided to preterm or LBW infants in hospital and the community, to ensure that care meets the needs of infants and parents.

METHODS

We searched databases to identify eligible studies examining the views and expectations of families. Study quality was assessed using the CASP checklist for qualitative studies. The GRADE-CERQual approach was used to assess confidence in review findings. Studies were sampled and data analysed using thematic synthesis.

RESULTS

222 studies (227 papers) were eligible for inclusion. 54 studies (57 papers) were sampled based on data richness, methodological quality, and representation across settings. Eight analytical themes were identified. Confidence in results was moderate to high. What mattered was a positive outcome for the child; active involvement in care; being supported to cope at home after discharge; emotional support; the healthcare environment; information needs met; logistical support available; and positive relationships with staff.

CONCLUSION

Although parents and family members reported a variety of experiences in the care of their infant, we found high consistency in what matters to families.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

This review identifies approaches to improve experiences of parents which are consistent with the Family Centred Care model of healthcare.

Factors Influencing Parents' Perception of Their Infants' Transition From a 6-Bed Pod to Single Family Room in a Mixed-Room Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

BACKGROUND

While hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), infants and their families undergo multiple transitions, and these have been found to be a source of stress for families. Although mixed-room NICU designs allow for infants to benefit from different room types as their needs evolve during their stay, these can necessitate a transfer from one room type to another, which represents a transition for families. As some NICUs change to mixed-room designs, there is a need to better understand the factors impacting these particular transitions from the perception of parents.

PURPOSE

Examine parent perceptions of factors affecting the transition from a 6-bed pod to single family room in a mixed-room design NICU.

METHODS

Using a qualitative descriptive design, semistructured interviews were conducted with 17 parents whose infant had transitioned from a 6-bed pod to single family room. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and then analyzed using content analysis.

RESULTS

Four categories of factors were identified: (1) framing, timing, and comprehensiveness of information provided by staff regarding the transition; (2) parents' perception of advantages and disadvantages of the new space; (3) parent's own well-being and quality of support from staff; and (4) parent's previous NICU and parenting experience.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Staff should frame the information they provide about this transition in a positive way to help parents adjust. A family-centered approach should also be used to provide tailored information and support to individual families.

IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH

Future studies are needed into intraunit transfers including sources of support for parents, as well as staff perceptions of these transitions.

Collaborating to Improve Neonatal Care: ParentAl Participation on the NEonatal Ward-Study Protocol of the neoPARTNER Study

Parents are often appointed a passive role in the care for their hospitalised child. In the family-integrated care (FICare) model, parental involvement in neonatal care is emulated. Parental participation in medical rounds, or family-centred rounds (FCR), forms a key element. A paucity remains of randomised trials assessing the outcomes of FCR (embedded in FICare) in families and neonates, and outcomes on an organisational level are relatively unexplored. Likewise, biological mechanisms through which a potential effect may be exerted are lacking robust evidence. Ten level two Dutch neonatal wards are involved in this stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial FCR (embedded in FICare) by one common implementation strategy. Parents of infants hospitalised for at least 7 days are eligible for inclusion. The primary outcome is parental stress (PSS:NICU) at discharge. Secondary outcomes include parental, neonatal, healthcare professional and organisational outcomes. Biomarkers of stress will be analysed in parent-infant dyads. With a practical approach and broad outcome set, this study aims to obtain evidence on the possible (mechanistic) effect of FCR (as part of FICare) on parents, infants, healthcare professionals and organisations. The practical approach provides (experiences of) FICare material adjusted to the Dutch setting, available for other hospitals after the study.

Family Resilience as an Emerging Concept in Neonatology: Evidence From a Metasummary Review

BACKGROUND

Family resilience can be observed through specific resilience-promoting processes, namely, shared belief systems, communication, and organizational processes, but the concept remains mostly unstudied in neonatology. This metasummary aims to evaluate the frequency of family resilience processes in qualitative scientific literature to illustrate how family resilience is exhibited in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) setting.

METHODS

A search among 4 databases yielded 7029 results, which were reviewed for inclusion. Following Sandelowski and Barroso's qualitative metasummary method, findings from each study were independently coded and frequency effect size was calculated.

RESULTS

Forty-six primary qualitative studies published between 2016 and 2022 conducted with parents of preterm infants who discussed their NICU hospitalization experience were included in this metasummary. All 9 of Walsh's family resilience processes were identified in the literature, and their frequency effect size ranged from 4% to 91%. Four additional themes emerged pertaining to specific family resilience behaviors exhibited by NICU families.

CONCLUSION

This analysis sheds new light on the most recent qualitative evidence of parents' experiences in the NICU by analyzing it through the lens of family resilience and posits family resilience as a promising concept in relation to the predominance of the family-centered care philosophy in neonatal units.

Using expert opinion rounds to develop valid and realistic manipulations for experimental video-vignette research: Results from a study on clinicians' (un)reasonable argumentative support for treatment decisions in neonatal care

OBJECTIVE

To develop valid and realistic manipulations for video-vignette research using expert opinion rounds, in preparation of an experimental study on clinicians' (un)reasonable argumentative support for treatment decisions in neonatal care.

METHODS

In three rounds, N = 37 participants (parents/clinicians/researchers) provided feedback on four video-vignette scripts and completed listing, ranking, and rating exercises to determine which (un)reasonable arguments clinicians may provide to support treatment decisions.

RESULTS

Round 1: participants deemed the scripts realistic. They judged that, on average, clinicians should provide two arguments for a treatment decision. They listed 13-20 reasonable arguments, depending on the script. Round 2: participants ranked the two most salient, reasonable arguments per script. Round 3: participants rated the most plausible, unreasonable arguments from a predefined list. These results guided the design of 12 experimental conditions.

CONCLUSION

Expert opinion rounds are an effective method to develop video-vignettes that are theoretically sound and ecologically realistic and offer a powerful means to include stakeholders in experimental research design. Our study yielded some preliminary insights into what are considered prevalent (un)reasonable arguments for clinicians' treatment plans.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

We provide hands-on guidelines on involving stakeholders in the design of video-vignette experiments and the development of video-based health communication interventions - both for research and practice.

Patient engagement practice within perinatal eHealth: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

There is a gap in knowledge about how perinatal eHealth programs function to support autonomy for new and expectant parents from pursuing wellness goals.

OBJECTIVES

To examine patient engagement (access, personalization, commitment and therapeutic alliance) within the practice of perinatal eHealth.

DESIGN

Scoping review.

METHODS

Five databases were searched in January 2020 and updated in April 2022. Reports were vetted by three researchers and included if they documented maternity/neonatal programs and utilized World Health Organization (WHO) person-centred digital health intervention (DHI) categories. Data were charted using a deductive matrix containing WHO DHI categories and patient engagement attributes. A narrative synthesis was conducted utilizing qualitative content analysis. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 'extension for scoping reviews' guidelines were followed for reporting.

RESULTS

Twelve eHealth modalities were found across 80 included articles. The analysis yielded two conceptual insights: (1) The nature of perinatal eHealth programs: (1) emergence of a complex structure of practice and (2) practising patient engagement within perinatal eHealth.

CONCLUSION

Results will be used to operationalize a model of patient engagement within perinatal eHealth.

In-hospital education of parents of newborns may benefit from competency-based education: A qualitative focus group and interview study among health professionals

AIMS/OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to appraise health professionals' self-reported practices in educating parents of hospitalised newborns from the perspective of competency-based education and to identify areas for improvement of parental learning.

BACKGROUND

Patient education is essential to achieve autonomy in parents of hospitalised newborns. The literature provides descriptions of the use of various components of competency-based education in patient education. This suggests that competency-based education is a valuable concept for patient education.

DESIGN

A case-based qualitative study.

METHODS

Three focus group discussions were conducted and 28 semi-structured interviews with 45 health professionals who practice in a hospital setting that is designed to empower parents. The data were analysed with a framework analysis approach, using a framework of competency-based education themes for a combined inductive and deductive content data analysis. The recommendations of the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist were followed.

FINDINGS

Two themes of competency-based education emerged as evidently operationalised: (1) 'Learning climate' and (2) 'Role modeling'. Five themes emerged as incompletely operationalised: (1) 'Parent curriculum based on inter-professional consensus'; (2) 'Transparency about the competencies needed'; (3) 'Access to teaching'; (4) 'Assessing and reporting results'; and (5) 'Proficiency statements based on autonomy expectations'. Two themes did not emerge: (1) 'Empowering parents to be active learners' and (2) 'Evaluation and improvement of the education program'.

CONCLUSIONS

Parent education is at risk of being merely on a master-apprentice model and may be more effective if it is designed on competency-based education principles. Identified areas for improvement are empowering parents to be 'active learners' and by involving them in the evaluation and improvement of the educational program. Parent education in neonatal health care may benefit from an appraisal based on competency-based education themes.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Appraising parent education based on competency-based education principles is feasible for improving the learning process towards parent autonomy.

Argumentation in end-of-life conversations with families in Dutch intensive care units: a qualitative observational study

PURPOSE

In intensive care units (ICUs), decisions about the continuation or discontinuation of life-sustaining treatment (LST) are made on a daily basis. Professional guidelines recommend an open exchange of standpoints and underlying arguments between doctors and families to arrive at the most appropriate decision. Yet, it is still largely unknown how doctors and families argue in real-life conversations. This study aimed to (1) identify which arguments doctors and families use in support of standpoints to continue or discontinue LST, (2) investigate how doctors and families structure their arguments, and (3) explore how their argumentative practices unfold during conversations.

METHOD

A qualitative inductive thematic analysis of 101 audio-recorded conversations between doctors and families.

RESULTS

Seventy-one doctors and the families of 36 patients from the neonatal, pediatric, and adult ICU (respectively, N-ICU, P-ICU, and A-ICU) of a large university-based hospital participated. In almost all conversations, doctors were the first to argue and families followed, thereby either countering the doctor's line of argumentation or substantiating it. Arguments put forward by doctors and families fell under one of ten main types. The types of arguments presented by families largely overlapped with those presented by doctors. A real exchange of arguments occurred in a minority of conversations and was generally quite brief in the sense that not all possible arguments were presented and then discussed together.

CONCLUSION

This study offers a detailed insight in the argumentation practices of doctors and families, which can help doctors to have a sharper eye for the arguments put forward by doctors and families and to offer room for true deliberation.

How parents and health professionals experience prematurity in an Italian neonatal intensive care: A grounded theory study

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to explore prematurity as a psycho-social process from the point of view of both parents and healthcare professionals.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted a Grounded Theory study through semi-structured interviews. Participants were from an Italian Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, including parents of premature children, and health professionals. Interviews were analyzed according to Grounded Theory coding strategies, to hypothesize a theoretical model.

RESULTS

On one side, behaviors, emotions, and feelings of parental couples; on the other one, the activities and reactions of professionals have been interpreted in a four-phase negotiated process: 1) the initial breakup; 2) the floating family; 3) the event processing; 4) the reconstruction of a new family.

CONCLUSIONS

Managing prematurity is a negotiated process which could be better managed through a family-centered approach as fundamental in neonatal and pediatric services. Being open in listening, coherent in the given answers, and knowing the entire process and story of being suddenly parents of a premature child can make the difference in the future definition of a new family.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Perinatal care would benefit from the following suggested practical implications: i) reducing feelings of separation and solitude by integrating diverse professionals around the family systems; ii) expediting prematurity-related changes through peer-support during hospitalization and attention to rooms' organization; iii) enhancing information exchange between all professionals involved in the care of dyads/parents and new-borns, starting since the pregnancy and continuing after the child's birth by implementing multidisciplinary meetings or appropriate care pathways.

Physicians' Ineffective Communication Leading to Cerebral Injuries in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Inspirational enlightenment has guided me to write this review article while encountering, during my practice as a pediatrician, referred cases of previously stable, positively progressing cerebral palsy (CP) children who had not yet celebrated their first teen birthday but ended up being in a deep coma and mechanical ventilation-dependent post a cardiac arrest outside the hospital. The dramatic end was believed to be probably caused by food aspiration, which could have been prevented by effective counseling to the in-denial, struggling parents about their children’s condition. This report tries to emphasize the importance of effective communication between physicians and caregivers of children who were diagnosed with CP. The importance is elaborated by linking the level of the provided communication/education to the caregivers with cerebral injuries, such as intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), which potentially could have been prevented among CP children. The sequence of the injury is believed to be initiated by aspiration of food, which resulted in apnea/asphyxia, followed by a cardiopulmonary arrest outside hospital settings. Such a life-threatening event is hypothesized to be the leading cause of non-reversible intracranial injuries to the CP child of misinformed/unaware parents. Data on unsolved parental status, parent-provider miscommunications, and aspiration pneumonia leading to cerebral injuries and their permanent neurological insult in CP children were reviewed.

Disparities and Early Engagement Associated with the 18- to 36-Month High-Risk Infant Follow-Up Visit among Very Low Birthweight Infants in California

OBJECTIVE

To determine follow-up rates for the high-risk infant follow-up (HRIF) visit at 18-36 months among infants with very low birthweights and identify factors associated with completion.

STUDY DESIGN

We completed a retrospective cohort study using linked California Perinatal Quality of Care Collaborative neonatal intensive care unit, California Perinatal Quality of Care Collaborative California Children's Services HRIF, and Vital Statistics Birth Cohort databases. We identified maternal, sociodemographic, neonatal, clinical, and HRIF program level factors associated with the 18- to 36-month follow-up using multivariable Poisson regression.

RESULTS

From 2010 to 2015, among 19 284 infants with very low birthweight expected to attend at least 1 visit at 18-36 months, 10 249 (53%) attended. On multivariable analysis, factors independently associated with attendance at an 18- to 36-month visit included estimated gestational age (relative risk [RR], 1.21; 95% CI, 1.15-1.26; <26 weeks vs ≥31 weeks), maternal education (RR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.06-1.12; college degree or more vs high school), distance from clinic (RR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.89-0.97; fourth quartile vs first quartile), and Black non-Hispanic race vs White race (RR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.84-0.92). However, completion of an initial HRIF visit within the first 12 months was the factor most strongly associated with completion of an 18- to 36-month visit (RR, 6.47; 95% CI, 5.91-7.08).

CONCLUSIONS

In a California very low birthweight cohort, maternal education, race, and distance from the clinic were associated with sustained HRIF participation, but attendance at a visit by 12 months was the most significantly associated factor. These findings highlight the importance of early engagement with all families to ensure equitable follow-through for children born preterm.

The AIMS home-video method: parental experiences and appraisal for use in neonatal follow-up clinics

Background

In The Netherlands, prematurely born infants and their parents are offered regular developmental check-ups in a hospital setting. In line with providing healthcare at distance, the use of video footage showing the infant’s behavior and movements, taken by parents at home and assessed by professionals online, might be a fruitful future practice. The focus of this study was to gain insight into parental experiences with the Alberta Infant Motor Scale home-video method and their appraisal of its applicability for use in an outpatient neonatal follow-up clinic.

Method

A qualitative descriptive study among parents of healthy extremely or very premature infants (GA 26.2–31.5 weeks) participating in a longitudinal study of motor development between 3–18 months corrected age. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted and transcribed verbatim. Data was analyzed independently. Inductive content analysis was performed following the process of the AIMS home-video method.

Results

Parents appraised the AIMS home-video method as manageable and fun to do. Instructions, instruction film, and checklists were clear. Transferring the video footage from their phone to their computer and uploading it to the web portal was sometimes time-consuming. Parents gained a better awareness of their infant’s motor development and found the provided feedback a confirmation of what they already thought about their infant’s development and was reassuring that their child was doing well. First-time parents seemed more uncertain and had a greater need for information about (motor) development, but on the other hand, also had confidence in their child.

All parents thought that home-videos can be an addition to follow-up visits, but cannot replace (all) visits. It may be an opportunity to reduce the frequency of hospital visits, while still having their infant monitored.

Conclusion

Parents appraised the AIMS home-video method positively and are of the opinion that home-videos can be of added value in monitoring infants at risk in neonatal follow-up additional to hospital visits. In future research a user-friendly application and/or platform to exchange video footage safely between parents and professionals should be developed with all possible stakeholders involved and implementation should be explored.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12887-022-03398-9.

Words matter: exploring communication between parents and neonatologists

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate how neonatologists and NICU parents perceive communication in the NICU.

STUDY DESIGN

A mixed-methods approach using an online survey and three focus groups with NICU parents and neonatologists, utilizing videos of simulated conversations between a neonatologist and mother.

RESULTS

A total of 72 participants responded to the online survey. Parents ranked the invasiveness of common NICU clinical procedures differently than the neonatologist standard but assessed the quality of the simulated conversation similarly. A total of 13 parents and 6 physicians participated in the focus groups. Major themes from both neonatologist and parent focus groups were the impact of making a connection with the parents, the importance of making decisions yet not making assumptions based on the divergent use of language by neonatologists and parents, and providing hope.

CONCLUSIONS

Parents and neonatologists differ in their perception of key aspects of NICU language use and communication but also agree on many aspects.

How Physicians Discuss Uncertainty With Parents in Intensive Care Units

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Physicians and parents of critically ill neonates and children receiving intensive care have to make decisions on the child's behalf. Throughout the child's illness and treatment trajectory, adequately discussing uncertainties with parents is pivotal because this enhances the quality of the decision-making process and may positively affect the child's and parents' well-being. We investigated how physicians discuss uncertainty with parents and how this discussion evolves over time during the trajectory.

METHODS

We asked physicians working in the NICU and PICU of 3 university medical centers to audio record their conversations with parents of critically ill children from the moment doubts arose whether treatment was in the child's best interests. We qualitatively coded and analyzed the anonymized transcripts, thereby using the software tool MAXQDA 2020.

RESULTS

Physicians were found to adapt the way they discussed uncertainty with parents to the specific phase of the child's illness and treatment trajectory. When treatment options were still available, physicians primarily focused on uncertainty related to diagnostic procedures, treatment options, and associated risks and effects. Particularly when the child's death was imminent, physicians had less "scientific" guidance to offer. They eliminated most uncertainty and primarily addressed practical uncertainties regarding the child's dying process to offer parents guidance.

CONCLUSIONS

Our insights may increase physicians' awareness and enhance their skills in discussing uncertainties with parents tailored to the phase of the child's illness and treatment trajectory and to parental needs in each specific phase.

Developing an audio-based communication tool for NICU discharge of Latino families with limited English proficiency

OBJECTIVE

Research shows NICU Latino parents with limited English proficiency (LEP) feel less comfortable asking questions and participating in medical decision-making, which may negatively affect transition to community healthcare. Question prompt lists (QPL), suggested questions sometimes drawn from families and providers, can improve family-centered communication. We explored clinician and parent perceptions to inform development of and pilot a NICU discharge QPL.

METHODS

Focus groups with NICU and primary care providers explored perceived educational needs of Latino parents LEP and barriers to effective transition to community healthcare. Semi-structured interviews with Latino parents LEP explored perceptions of knowledge gaps and recommendations to improve the transition process. A Spanish audio QPL for parents and an English written version for providers were developed and pilot tested for acceptability.

RESULTS

Provider focus groups (n = 27) and parent interviews (n = 19) identified themes: decreased parent activation, knowledge gaps, limited-use interpreters, unfamiliarity with healthcare system, and social isolation as barriers to smooth NICU-to-home transition. Providers (n = 11) and parents (n = 10) favored QPL introduction early in NICU admission, finding it useful to improve communication and transition processes for families.

CONCLUSION

Our QPL may address challenges faced by Latino parents LEP when transitioning home.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

QPLs may improve Latino NICU infants' healthcare outcomes.

Ten Years of Neonatal Intensive Care Adaption to the Infants' Needs: Implementation of a Family-Centered Care Model with Single-Family Rooms in Norway

Ten years ago, the Neonatal intensive care unit in Drammen, Norway, implemented Single-Family Rooms (SFR), replacing the traditional open bay (OB) unit. Welcoming parents to stay together with their infant 24 h per day, seven days per week, was both challenging and inspiring. The aim of this paper is to describe the implementation of SFR and how they have contributed to a cultural change among the interprofessional staff. Parents want to participate in infant care, but to do so, they need information and supervision from nurses, as well as emotional support. Although SFR protect infants and provide private accommodation for parents, nurses may feel isolated and lack peer support. Our paper describes how we managed to systematically reorganize the nurse's workflow by using a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle approach. Significant milestones are identified, and the implementation processes are displayed. The continuous parental presence has changed the way we perceive the family as a care recipient and how we involve the parents in daily care. We provide visions for the future with further developments of care adapted to infants' needs by providing neonatal intensive care with parents as equal partners.

Socio-demographic factors related to parent engagement in the NICU and the impact of the SENSE program

BACKGROUND

Early parent engagement in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is important for both parent and infant mental health and for improving developmental outcomes. It remains unclear how different programs, such as the Supporting and Enhancing NICU Sensory Experiences (SENSE) program, may empower parents from various socio-demographic groups to engage in the NICU. An improved understanding could aid in individualizing interventions for those at the highest risk for health disparities.

AIMS

This exploratory study, which was part of a larger study, sought to explore 1) socio-demographic factors related to parent presence and engagement in the NICU and 2) if the SENSE program related to increased parent presence and engagement among different socio-demographic groups.

METHODS

Seventy parent-infant dyads (born ≤ 32 weeks gestation) were randomized to SENSE programming (parent education and age-appropriate, positive sensory interventions for parents to conduct with their infants every day of hospitalization) or standard care after admission to the NICU. The amount of parent presence and participation in sensory activities was tracked using bedside logs, nursing records, and research team documentation.

RESULTS

Being married (p = 0.048; p = 0.01), having private insurance (p < 0.001; p = 0.01), and having fewer children (p = 0.004; p = 0.03) related to more parent presence and engagement respectively. Parents who were Black had less presence and engagement in the NICU (p = 0.04; p = 0.02). Participation in the SENSE program was related to more parent presence and engagement among younger mothers (p = 0.002; p ≤0.001) and among parents living farther distances from the hospital (p < 0.001; p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

Programming, such as the SENSE program, can improve parent engagement in the NICU among high-risk groups.

Current Resources for Evidence-Based Practice, November 2021

An extensive review of new resources to support the provision of evidence-based care for women and infants. The current column includes a discussion of autonomy and respect in maternity care and commentaries on reviews focused on whether to induce women who present with mild preeclampsia in the late preterm period and the extent to which urinary incontinence symptoms prevent women from participating in exercise. It also includes a brief update about the USPSTF guidelines on screening for gestational diabetes.

Current Resources for Evidence-Based Practice, September 2021

An extensive review of new resources to support the provision of evidence-based care for women and infants. The current column includes an assessment of safety of birth centers in the United States and commentaries on reviews focused on aspirin prophylaxis in pregnancy and the new gestational weight gain evidence summary from the United States Preventive Services Task Force.

Maternal Anxiety, Infant Stress, and the Role of Live-Performed Music Therapy during NICU Stay in The Netherlands

Having an infant in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) elicits maternal anxiety, which may hamper parent-child bonding. We performed a prospective cohort study to describe anxiety in mothers of infants born before 30 weeks of gestation during NICU stay in The Netherlands, and investigated the influence of infant stress and gestational age. Second, we performed a randomized-controlled live-performed music therapy trial (LPMT trial) to investigate whether music therapy applied to the infant alleviated maternal anxiety. The relation between infant stress, gestational age, and maternal anxiety was measured in 45 mother-infant dyads, using the Neonatal Infant Stressor Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The effect of LPMT on anxiety was assessed in 21 mothers whose infants were assigned to either LPMT (n = 12) or waitlist (n = 9). Mothers completed the STAI before and after this period. Maternal anxiety decreased over time in all mothers, and was strongly related with infant stress (r = 0.706, p < 0.001), but not with gestational age. Anxiety scores decreased by 12% after LMPT, and increased by 1% after a waitlist period (p = 0.30). Our results indicate that LPMT in the weeks after birth may accelerate the reduction of maternal anxiety. Further research should focus on the effects on mother-child bonding.

Family integrated care: Supporting parents as primary caregivers in the neonatal intensive care unit

Family integrated care (FICare) is a collaborative model of neonatal care which aims to address the negative impacts of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) environment by involving parents as equal partners, minimizing separation, and supporting parent-infant closeness. FICare incorporates psychological, educational, communication, and environmental strategies to support parents to cope with the NICU environment and to prepare them to be able to emotionally, cognitively, and physically care for their infant. FICare has been associated with improved infant feeding, growth, and parent wellbeing and self-efficacy; important mediators for long-term improved infant neurodevelopmental and behavioural outcomes. FICare implementation requires multi-disciplinary commitment, staff motivation, and sufficient time for preparation and readiness for change as professionals relinquish power and control to instead develop collaborative partnerships with parents. Successful FICare implementation and culture change have been applied by neonatal teams internationally, using practical approaches suited to their local environments. Strategies such as parent and staff meetings and relational communication help to break down barriers to change by providing space for the co-creation of knowledge, the negotiation of caregiving roles and the development of trusting relationships. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability within programs supporting parental presence in neonatal units and the profound impacts of parent-infant separation. New technologies and digital innovations can help to mitigate these challenges, and support renewed efforts to embed FICare philosophy and practice in neonatal care during the COVID-19 recovery and beyond.

Sources of Stress, Family Functioning, and Needs of Families With a Chronic Critically Ill Child: A Qualitative Study

PICU hospitalization is particularly stressful for families. When it is prolonged and the prognostic is uncertain, it can significantly and negatively affect the whole family. To date, little is known on how families with a chronic critically ill (CCI) child are affected. This national study explored the specific PICU-related sources of stress, family functioning and needs of families of CCI patients during a PICU hospitalization. This descriptive qualitative study was conducted in the eight pediatric intensive care units in Switzerland. Thirty-one families with a child meeting the CCI criteria participated in semi-structured interviews. Interviews, including mothers only (n = 12), fathers only (n = 8), or mother and father dyads (n = 11), were conducted in German, French, or English by two trained researchers/clinical nurses specialists. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using deductive and inductive content analyses. Five overarching themes emerged: (1) high emotional intensity, (2) PICU-related sources of stress, (3) evolving family needs, (4) multi-faceted family functioning, and (5) implemented coping strategies. Our study highlighted the importance of caring for families with CCI children. Parents reported high negative emotional responses that affect their family functioning. Families experience was highly dependent on how HCPs were able to meet the parental needs, provide emotional support, reinforce parental empowerment, and allow high quality of care coordination.