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Craig AK, Munoz-Blanco S, Pilon B, Lemmon M. Communicating with Parents About Therapeutic Hypothermia and Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy: Integrating a Palliative Care Approach into Practice. Clin Perinatol 2024; 51:711-724. [PMID: 39095105 DOI: 10.1016/j.clp.2024.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Parents of newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) can face communication challenges in the neonatal intensive care unit. Both specialty palliative care and primary palliative care trained clinicians can assist parents as they navigate traumatic experiences and uncertain prognoses. Using evidence-based frameworks, the authors provide samples of how to communicate with parents and promote parent well-being across the care trajectory. The authors demonstrate how to involve parents in a shared decision-making process and give special consideration to the complexities of hospital discharge and the transition home. Sustained investment to guide the development of effective communication skills is crucial to support families of infants with HIE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa K Craig
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center, Portland; Department of Pediatrics, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Sara Munoz-Blanco
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Division of Perinatal-Neonatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins Children's Center, 1800 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Division of Pediatric Palliative Care, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins Children's Center, 1800 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | | | - Monica Lemmon
- Division of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, DUMC 3936, Durham 27710, USA; Division of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, DUMC 3936, Durham 27710, USA
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Bäcke P, Axelin A, Ågren J, Thernström Blomqvist Y. Parent-infant closeness and care practices during therapeutic hypothermia in Swedish neonatal intensive care units. SEXUAL & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE 2024; 41:101010. [PMID: 39094471 DOI: 10.1016/j.srhc.2024.101010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate care practices among Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) providing Therapeutic hypothermia (TH), and more specific to investigate staff's experiences of parental participation, presence, and possibilities of being close with their infant during TH. METHODS A descriptive, qualitative, and quantitative study. All Swedish NICUs providing TH (n = 10) participated. Data were collected during January-April 2021 via a questionnaire followed by a semi-structured interview with the registered nurse and the neonatologist responsible for TH at each unit. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and a qualitative content analysis was performed. RESULTS All NICUs allowed parents unlimited stay with their infants and were keen to support parental presence, which was a prerequisite for promoting parent-infant closeness. Standardized routines regarding the infants' care space and course of action were described as time-efficient and staff-saving, which freed up time to focus on the families. CONCLUSION Standardized routines regarding the care space setup and the medical and caring approach, as well as the NICU environment and practices around the families, can promote or curb the possibilities of parent-infant closeness. Well-established care practices and good environmental conditions with flexibility regarding the family's needs are therefore required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pyrola Bäcke
- University Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Uppsala, Sweden; Uppsala University, Department of Womeńs and Childreńs Health, S-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Anna Axelin
- Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Kinakvarngatan 10, 20520 Turku, Finland.
| | - Johan Ågren
- University Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Uppsala, Sweden; Uppsala University, Department of Womeńs and Childreńs Health, S-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Ylva Thernström Blomqvist
- University Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Uppsala, Sweden; Uppsala University, Department of Womeńs and Childreńs Health, S-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
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Bansal S, Molloy EJ, Rogers E, Bidegain M, Pilon B, Hurley T, Lemmon ME. Families as partners in neonatal neuro-critical care programs. Pediatr Res 2024:10.1038/s41390-024-03257-6. [PMID: 38886506 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-024-03257-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Parents of neonates with neurologic conditions face a specific breadth of emotional, logistical, and social challenges, including difficulties coping with prognostic uncertainty, the need to make complex medical decisions, and navigating new hopes and fears. These challenges place parents in a vulnerable position and at risk of developing mental health issues, which can interfere with bonding and caring for their neonate, as well as compromise their neonate's long-term neurodevelopment. To optimize neurologic and developmental outcomes, emerging neonatal neuro-critical care (NNCC) programs must concurrently attend to the unique needs of the developing newborn brain and of his/her parents. This can only be accomplished by embracing a family-centered care environment-one which prioritizes effective parent-clinician communication, longitudinal parent support, and parents as equitable partners in clinical care. NNCC programs offer a multifaceted approach to critical care for neonates at-risk for neurodevelopmental impairments, integrating expertise in neonatology and neurology. This review highlights evidence-based strategies to guide NNCC programs in developing a family-partnered approach to care, including primary staffing models; staff communication, implicit bias, and cultural competency trainings; comprehensive and tailored caregiver training; single-family rooms; flexible visitation policies; colocalized neonatal and maternal care; uniform mental health screenings; follow-up care referrals; and connections to peer support. IMPACT: Parents of neonates with neurologic conditions are at high-risk for experiencing mental health issues, which can adversely impact the parent-neonate relationship and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of their neonates. While guidelines to promote families as partners in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) have been developed, no protocols integrate the unique needs of parents in neonatal neurologic populations. A holistic approach that makes families true partners in the care of their neonate with a neurologic condition in the NICU has the potential to improve mental and physical well-being for both parents and neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simran Bansal
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Eleanor J Molloy
- Paediatric Research Laboratory, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute (TTMI), St. James' Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Discipline of Paediatrics, Dublin Trinity College, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity Research in Childhood Centre (TriCC), Children's Health Ireland & Coombe Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Elizabeth Rogers
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Margarita Bidegain
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Tim Hurley
- Paediatric Research Laboratory, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute (TTMI), St. James' Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Discipline of Paediatrics, Dublin Trinity College, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Monica E Lemmon
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
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Natarajan G, Hamrick SE, Zaniletti I, Lee KS, Mietzsch U, DiGeronimo R, Dizon MLV, Peeples ES, Yanowitz TD, Wu TW, Flibotte J, Joe P, Massaro AN, Rao R. Opioid exposure during therapeutic hypothermia and short-term outcomes in neonatal encephalopathy. J Perinatol 2022; 42:1017-1025. [PMID: 35474129 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-022-01400-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the association between opioid exposure during therapeutic hypothermia (TH) for perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and in-hospital outcomes. STUDY DESIGN In this retrospective cohort study, linked data were accessed on infants ≥36 weeks gestation, who underwent TH for HIE, born from 2010-2016 in 23 Neonatal Intensive Care Units participating in Children's Hospitals Neonatal Consortium and Pediatric Health Information Systems. We excluded infants who received opioids for >5 days. RESULTS The cohort (n = 1484) was categorized as No opioid [240(16.2%)], Low opioid (1-2 days) [574 (38.7%)] and High opioid group (HOG, 3-5 days) [670 (45.2%)]. After adjusting for HIE severity, opioids were not associated with abnormal MRI, but were associated with decreased likelihood of complete oral feeds at discharge. HOG had increased likelihood of prolonged hospital stay and ventilation. CONCLUSION Opioid exposure during TH was not associated with abnormal MRI; its association with adverse short-term outcomes suggests need for cautious empiric use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Girija Natarajan
- Pediatrics, Central Michigan University, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI, USA.
| | | | | | - Kyong-Soon Lee
- Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ulrike Mietzsch
- Pediatrics/Neonatology, Seattle Children's Hospital/University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Robert DiGeronimo
- Pediatrics/Neonatology, Seattle Children's Hospital/University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Maria L V Dizon
- Pediatrics, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Eric S Peeples
- Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Toby D Yanowitz
- Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Tai-Wei Wu
- Neonatology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - John Flibotte
- Pediatrics/ Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Priscilla Joe
- Neonatology, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - An N Massaro
- Neonatology, Children's National Health Systems, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Rakesh Rao
- Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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Ingram J, Beasant L, Odd D, Chakkarapani E. 'Opportunity to bond and a sense of normality': Parent and staff views of cuddling babies undergoing therapeutic hypothermia in neonatal intensive care: 'CoolCuddle'. Health Expect 2022; 25:1384-1392. [PMID: 35332621 PMCID: PMC9327856 DOI: 10.1111/hex.13477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Currently, parents whose sick babies are undergoing three days of cooling therapy for hypoxic–ischaemic encephalopathy in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are not permitted to cuddle their cooled babies, due to concerns of warming the baby or dislodging breathing tubes or vascular catheters. Parents want to stay and care for their cooled babies and have reported that bonding is adversely affected when they are not permitted to hold them. Design and Participants Qualitative interviews with 21 parents of cooled babies in NICU (11 mothers and 10 fathers) and 10 neonatal staff (4 consultants and 6 nurses) explored their views and experiences of an intervention to enable parents to cuddle their cooled babies (CoolCuddle). Thematic analysis methods were used to develop the themes and compare them between parents and staff. Results Five themes were produced. Three themes were comparable between parents and staff: Closeness, a sense of normality and reassurance and support. An additional parent theme reflected their mixed feelings about initial participation as they were apprehensive, but felt that it was an amazing opportunity. Parents and staff described the closeness between parents and babies as important for bonding and breastfeeding. Fathers particularly appreciated the opportunity to hold and bond with their infants. Parents valued the reassurance and support received from staff, and the cuddles helped them feel more normal and more like a family at a very stressful time. In a final staff theme, they discussed the skills, number of staff and training needed to undertake CoolCuddle in NICU. Conclusions Parents cuddling their babies during cooling therapy enhanced parent–infant bonding and family‐centred care in NICU and was positively received. Adverse perinatal mental health, impaired mother–infant bonding and their effects on the establishment of breastfeeding may be ameliorated by introducing CoolCuddle. Patient Contribution Our parent advisors contributed to the interview topic guides and endorsed the themes from the analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Ingram
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Lucy Beasant
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - David Odd
- Population Medicine, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Wales, UK
| | - Ela Chakkarapani
- Neonatology, St Michael's Hospital, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
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Danguecan A, El Shahed AI, Somerset E, Fan CPS, Ly LG, Williams T. Towards a biopsychosocial understanding of neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: A mixed-methods study. Clin Neuropsychol 2020; 35:925-947. [DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2020.1833987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Danguecan
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Brain and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neonatology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amr I. El Shahed
- Division of Neonatology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Emily Somerset
- Rogers Computational Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Chun-Po Steve Fan
- Rogers Computational Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Linh G. Ly
- Division of Neonatology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tricia Williams
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Brain and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Nassef SK, Blennow M, Jirwe M. Parental viewpoints and experiences of therapeutic hypothermia in a neonatal intensive care unit implemented with Family-Centred Care. J Clin Nurs 2020; 29:4194-4202. [PMID: 32761952 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.15448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To explore parental experiences of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) in their newborn infant suffering from hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy following perinatal asphyxia. BACKGROUND Since more than a decade, newborn infants are treated with TH following perinatal asphyxia to reduce mortality and disabilities and to improve neurological outcome. The infants' body temperature is lowered to 33.5°C for 72 hr, and the infant is usually cared for in an open incubator. The parents are not able to hold their infant skin to skin, which risks causing emotional reactions in parents and a loss of normal parent-infant bonding. DESIGN A qualitative descriptive design using semi-structured interviews. METHODS Up to 7 months after the event, interviews were conducted with 14 parents of seven infants who had received TH in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Sweden. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using framework approach. Findings were reported following the Standard for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) checklist. RESULTS From the interviews, an overall theme was found: Transition through a life-altering time, and three categories: (a) trepidation about prognosis, (b) transitioning into parenthood supported by the caring philosophy of family-centred care (FCC) and (c) rewarming as a milestone. CONCLUSIONS Parental experiences of TH are based on the immediate emotions and stress of uncertainty of the infant's prognosis. The values of FCC in the NICU append a natural transitioning into parenthood by parental involvement in nursing care and decisions. The rewarming of the infant is seen as a restart to more or less normal circumstances from the critical period of delivery and TH. RELEVANCE FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE The management of NICUs should update the awareness of and deepen knowledge about FCC. The emphasis ought to be on adequate information about TH and the values of FCC to parents in the NICU context.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mats Blennow
- Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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Liow N, Montaldo P, Lally PJ, Teiserskas J, Bassett P, Oliveira V, Mendoza J, Slater R, Shankaran S, Thayyil S. Preemptive Morphine During Therapeutic Hypothermia After Neonatal Encephalopathy: A Secondary Analysis. Ther Hypothermia Temp Manag 2019; 10:45-52. [PMID: 30807267 DOI: 10.1089/ther.2018.0052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although therapeutic hypothermia (TH) improves outcomes after neonatal encephalopathy (NE), the safety and efficacy of preemptive opioid sedation during cooling therapy is unclear. We performed a secondary analysis of the data from a large multicountry prospective observational study (Magnetic Resonance Biomarkers in Neonatal Encephalopathy [MARBLE]) to examine the association of preemptive morphine infusion during TH on brain injury and neurodevelopmental outcomes after NE. All recruited infants had 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy at 1 week, and neurodevelopmental outcome assessments at 22 months. Of 223 babies recruited to the MARBLE study, the data on sedation were available from 169 babies with moderate (n = 150) or severe NE (n = 19). Although the baseline characteristics and admission status were similar, the babies who received morphine infusion (n = 141) were more hypotensive (49% vs. 25%, p = 0.02) and had a significantly longer hospital stay (12 days vs. 9 days, p = 0.009) than those who did not (n = 28). Basal ganglia/thalamic injury (score ≥1) and cortical injury (score ≥1) was seen in 34/141 (24%) and 37/141 (26%), respectively, of the morphine group and 4/28 (14%) and 3/28 (11%) of the nonmorphine group (p > 0.05). On regression modeling adjusted for potential confounders, preemptive morphine was not associated with mean (standard deviation [SD]) thalamic N-acetylaspartate (NAA) concentration (6.9 ± 0.9 vs. 6.5 ± 1.5; p = 0.97), and median (interquartile range) lactate/NAA peak area ratios (0.16 [0.12-0.21] vs. 0.13 [0.11-0.18]; p = 0.20) at 1 week, and mean (SD) Bayley-III composite motor (92 ± 23 vs. 94 ± 10; p = 0.98), language (89 ± 22 vs. 93 ± 8; p = 0.53), and cognitive scores (95 ± 21 vs. 99 ± 13; p = 0.56) at 22 months. Adverse neurodevelopmental outcome (adjusted for severity of encephalopathy) was seen in 26 (18%) of the morphine group, and none of the nonmorphine group (p = 0.11). Preemptive morphine sedation during TH does not offer any neuroprotective benefits and may be associated with increased hospital stay. Optimal sedation during induced hypothermia requires further evaluation in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Liow
- Centre for Perinatal Neuroscience, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paolo Montaldo
- Centre for Perinatal Neuroscience, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,Neonatal Unit, Università degli Studi della Campania, "Luigi Vanvitelli," Italy
| | - Peter J Lally
- Centre for Perinatal Neuroscience, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Justinas Teiserskas
- Centre for Perinatal Neuroscience, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Vânia Oliveira
- Centre for Perinatal Neuroscience, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Josephine Mendoza
- Centre for Perinatal Neuroscience, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rebeccah Slater
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Seetha Shankaran
- Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Sudhin Thayyil
- Centre for Perinatal Neuroscience, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Craig AK, James C, Bainter J, Evans S, Gerwin R. Parental perceptions of neonatal therapeutic hypothermia; emotional and healing experiences. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019; 33:2889-2896. [PMID: 30585100 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2018.1563592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Parents of infants who undergo therapeutic hypothermia experience emotional challenges that have not been fully characterized. Comprehensive understanding of the parental experience of hypothermia is needed to provide better care to the family of the infant. This study aimed to improve the understanding of the parental emotional experience of therapeutic hypothermia in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted in a group setting with parents matched into groups according to the severity of the infant's presenting encephalopathy. The interviews were transcribed and coded into principal and additional subthemes.Results: Families of 15 infants, who were between 2 months and 2 years at the time of the interview, participated. Infants had a mean gestational age of 40.0 weeks and 11 (73%) were male. Eleven (73%) were transferred from other hospitals following birth and eight (53%) had seizures. Emotional Experiences was a principal theme and included subthemes of traumatic experiences, Loss of normalcy, and Separation of parent and infant. The birth was frequently described as traumatic with descriptions of chest compressions, excessive blood loss and infants not crying. Trauma was also described in the parental observations of the shivering hypothermic infant. Parents highlighted the loss of normalcy in terms of their expected birth narrative and the loss of the early opportunity to breastfeed and hold their infant. Parents reported that the physical separation imposed by hypothermia adversely impacted their ability to bond with their infant. Healing Experiences was the other principal theme with subthemes identified as Incorporation of parents into NICU care, Reclaiming parenthood and Support from other hypothermia families. Parents reported feeling a connection to their infant when they were involved in medical rounds and when asked to participate in routine care of their infant. Occasionally, parents strongly advocated for their own participation in a particular aspect of their infant's care such as a diaper change and this was perceived as reinforcing their role as parent. Lastly, parents requested greater access to peer support from parents who had experienced therapeutic hypothermia.Conclusion: Parents of infants treated with hypothermia reported the experience of their unexpected adverse delivery and their baby subsequently being treated with therapeutic hypothermia as traumatic. This trauma can be compounded by the pale, still and shivering appearance of their newborn and the delay in bonding as a result of physical separation during hypothermia treatment. Parents described feeling connected to their infant in the context of performing routine care activities and desired greater access to peer support. The themes reported in this study could be used to inform high level NICU care and raise provider awareness of the parent experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa K Craig
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, USA
| | - Christine James
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Family Health Centers of San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Janelle Bainter
- Department of Neonatology, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, USA
| | - Scott Evans
- Department of Neonatology, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, USA
| | - Roslyn Gerwin
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, USA
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