Support provided by nurses to parents of hospitalized children - cultural adaptation and validation of Nurse Parent Support Tool and initial research results

Nurse-mother communication and support: Perceptions of mothers in neonatal units

Introduction

Having a hospitalized neonate is a stressful experience for parents, especially mothers. Thus, in recent years, a paradigm shift occurred in the neonatal units, focusing on the needs of parents and supporting them in addition to caring for neonates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nurse-mother communication and support in neonatal units in Bushehr, Iran.

Method

This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in neonatal units of 6 hospitals in Bushehr, Iran, in 2022. Using the census method, all eligible mothers who met the inclusion criteria were included in this study. Data collection tools included demographic information form, nurse-parent support tool and nurse-parent communication questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS version 24 using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation test.

Results

The total mean score of nurse-parent support tool was 3.72 ± 0.72 and the total mean score of nurse-parent communication questionnaire was 59/27 ± 12/82. Caregiving support had the highest mean score (4.07 ± 73 0.73) and emotional support had the lowest (3.42 ± 91 0.91). Also, a statistically significant difference was seen between the admitted unit variable and the mean score of nurse-mother communication and support. Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference between the mechanical ventilation status of the neonate and the mean score of nurse-mother support. A significant positive correlation was seen between the neonatal gestational age and the mean score of nurse-mother communication.

Conclusions

The total mean score of nurse-parent support and communication was moderate. Therefore, nursing support and communication need to be improved. Planning is needed to enhance the role of neonatal nurses and strengthen their support and communication skills in line with the family-centered care approach.

Parents' experiences of living with a child with cancer undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a qualitative content analysis study

Objectives

Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) profoundly impacts the physical, psychological, and social aspects of parents' lives. Thus, this study aimed to explore the experiences of parents living with a child with cancer who undergoes HSCT.

Methods

This qualitative study involved 20 parents of children with cancer who were undergoing HSCT at a referral hospital in Iran. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants from February 2023 to November 2023. In-depth semi-structured interviews, featuring open-ended questions, were utilized for data collection. Data analysis was performed using conventional content analysis.

Results

Data analysis revealed two main themes. "Surrounded by hardships" and "Self-actualization." The first theme encompassed participants' experiences of facing difficulties in life after being aware of their child's need for HSCT. This theme consisted of four categories: "uncertainty about the child's future," "exhaustion from the child's treatment process," "worrying about the healthy child(ren)," and "helplessness." The second theme "self-actualization" included with two categories: "transformation in life's philosophy" and "acquisition of new capabilities." These categories highlighted the positive outcomes experienced by the participants following their child's HSCT.

Conclusion

Our findings underscore the importance of healthcare providers being attuned to parents' experiences throughout their child's HSCT trajectory. It is crucial for healthcare providers to encourage parents to articulate their concerns and feelings and seek support from healthcare providers, family, and friends. The development of psychological support services in healthcare settings can facilitate tailored interventions to alleviate parents' difficulties.

Effect of a Multifaceted Approach on Perceived Support Among Mothers of Preterm Infants: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Introduction

Mothers of preterm infants need support to deal with the issues caused by the early birth of their infants.

Objective

The authors examined the impact of a multifaceted supportive approach on the mothers' perceived support levels.

Methods

The present quasi-experimental study was performed on 143 mother-preterm infant pairs, in two neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) of referral and educational hospitals in Tehran, Iran. The base of developed interventions was known to support system patterns of mothers with preterm infants. Different supportive interventions (appraisal, instrumental, emotional, and informational) of mothers were implemented during three months. The Nurse Parent Support Tool was applied for assessing perceptions of perceived support by mothers. Routine care was provided for the control group. The results were analyzed by STATA software 13. Categorical variables were analyzed by chi-square test, t-test, and inverse probability treatment weights.

Results

Following adjustments of mean differences of outcomes between study groups (95% confidence interval), all support scores, such as instrumental support, -1.23 (95% CI -1.04 to -1.43), total support, -1.83 (95% CI -1.6 to -2.06), appraisal support, -2.01 (95% CI -1.73 to -2.29), emotional support, -1.87 (95% CI -2.15 to 1.6), and informational support, -2.12 (95% CI -1.82 to -2.43), were significantly higher in the interventional group than in the control group (p < .001).

Conclusions

Support received by mothers of preterm infants determines maternal/neonatal health. Information sharing and effective ways to support are essential elements in the mother's ability to deal with the new, stressful situation. This multifaceted supportive approach considerably improved mothers' perceived support.

Micro-preemie Parents' Perceptions of Trauma-Informed Developmental Neuroprotective Care and Nursing Support

BACKGROUND

Preterm birth is traumatic for both the infant and parents. Trauma-informed developmental neuroprotective care (TIDNC) may positively influence the outcomes for micro-preemie infants (infants born before 26 weeks' gestation) as well as support parents in crisis.

PURPOSE

To explore how TIDNC influences micro-preemie parents' perceptions of nursing care and support.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a 56-bed level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). A convenience sample of micro-preemie parents (n = 16, 46%) completed the Nurse Parent Support Tool (NPST) questionnaire, which included 2 open-ended questions.

RESULTS

These parents scored high scores on the NPST (mean = 4.62 ± 0.24), indicating most parents felt support from the nursing staff and perceived individualized family-centered high-quality nursing care. Subscale scores were higher than all previous studies. Parents perceived high levels of support most of the time to almost always. Although 4 themes were closely associated with the subscales, the fifth theme, Praise has not been previously documented. Parents were grateful for nurses who provided compassionate care and support during one of the most difficult times of their lives.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

TIDNC encourages robust nurse-parent authentic caring relationships, which are foundational to the parents' perceptions of nursing care and support. These relationships, built on mutual trust, respect, and genuine listening, appear to foster an exceptionally high degree of support.

IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH

More research is needed to examine how unit culture, characteristics of nurses, parents, and infants as well as infant outcomes influence micro-preemie parents' perception of care and further explore the nature of support.

Translation and cultural adaptation of the Family Centered Care Assessment Scale (FCCAS) for Finnish pediatric nursing

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the Family Centered Care Assessment Scale (FCCAS) to evaluate family-centered care in the context of Finnish pediatric nursing.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The translation and cultural adaptation were done according guidelines of International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes (ISPOR), which constitute a systematic process including ten phases. The presented research included cognitive interviews conducted with the end user of the scale: parents of hospitalized children.

RESULTS

The FCCAS was successfully translated and culturally adapted to the Finnish context. Translational, clinical and parental expertise were used to develop the scale. Conceptual equivalence was achieved in the translation. In the cultural adaptation, some of the items were modified based on experts' assessments to make them comprehensible and appropriate to the Finnish culture. The scale showed good evidence of content. Reporting of the study adheres to the COSMIN checklist.

CONCLUSIONS

Combining ISPOR guidelines and cognitive interviews are recommended to use in the translation and cultural adaptation process. Nursing staff and parents' involvement and awareness of family-centered care have been concretized. Systematic translation and cultural adaptation have prepared a Finnish version of the scale for psychometric testing.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The study outlines how rigorous methodological approaches can be applied to the translation and cultural adaptation of a measurement tool. The developed scale includes items which comprehensively cover family-centered care characteristics. In following study, it will be possible to evaluate the extent to which family-centered care is implemented in Finnish pediatric nursing.

Parent needs assessment instruments in neonatal intensive care units: Implications for parent education interventions

OBJECTIVES

Psychosocial and educational interventions based on standardized needs assessment can help alleviate distress among parents of premature infants. This study aims to (1) provide an overview of standardized instruments used to assess parental needs in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and (2) discuss their potential to facilitate the provision of appropriate support to parents of premature babies.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted. PubMed, CiNAHL, PsychARTICLES, PsychINFO, and Medline were searched for studies reporting on the use of validated parental needs assessment instruments in the NICU.

RESULTS

Following the analysis of 33 publications, 6 instruments designed to assess the needs of premature infants' parents were identified. Based on their good psychometric properties and practicality, the NICU Family Needs Inventory, the Critical Care Maternal Needs Inventory, and the Nurse Parent Support Tool were considered particularly relevant for use in clinical and research settings.

CONCLUSIONS

Validated parent needs assessment instruments are available for use in the NICU setting. Further research evaluating the benefits and usability of standardized parental needs assessment in the NICU is needed.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Validated needs assessment instruments should be consistently used to facilitate the development of targeted psychosocial and educational interventions for parents in the NICU.

Support provided by healthcare professionals to the mothers of newborns in the neonatal unit

Objective: To evaluate the support offered by health professionals to mothers of newborns admitted to the neonatal unit.Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach conducted at the Regional Hospital of Tucuruí, in the state of Pará, region of the Brazilian Amazon, where 33 mothers who had newborn children admitted to the neonatal unit responded to the structured adapted version of the NPST (Nurse Parent Support Tool ). Results: Most were aged 20-34 years (48%), married or in a stable relationship (69%), multiracial (87%), housewife (57%), with up to 11 years of study (72%). The scores for the NPST subdomains were 3.39 ± 1.65 (Communication and Information Support), 4.13 ± 1.33 (Emotional Support), 3.93 ± 1.46 (Incentive Support), and 4.21 ± 1,27 (Instrumental Support). The findings revealed unsatisfactory communication and information support from health professionals to mothers, although they expressed satisfaction with the care provided. Conclusions: The perception of scarcity of human resources and health education, verified in this study, weakens the communication process during hospitalization and influences the mother's well-being, leading to a decrease in the efficiency of the support provided. The improvement in this area can lead to better results in daily practice. The replication of this study to other locations can lead to more significant assistance to mothers of hospitalized neonates and provide new technologies and strategies in health education.

The effect of nurse support and social support on fatigue experienced by mothers whose children are hospitalized

The authors' aim in this study was carried out to determine the effect of social support and nurse support on fatigue experienced by mothers whose children were hospitalized. This is a descriptive, analytical and cross-sectional research study. Our study population consisted of all the mothers (n = 198) who had children hospitalized in the pediatric services of the public and training and research hospitals. Data were collected using a questionnaire, Nurse Parent Support Tool, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Brief Fatigue Inventory. Our finding the mothers accompanying their hospitalized children who received adequate nurse support were found to have less maternal fatigue.