Zhang R, Tang Q, Zhu LH, Peng XM, Zhang N, Xiong YE, Chen MH, Chen KL, Luo D, Li X, Latour JM. Testing a Family Supportive End of Life Care Intervention in a Chinese Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Quasi-experimental Study With a Non-randomized Controlled Trial Design.
Front Pediatr 2022;
10:870382. [PMID:
35935359 PMCID:
PMC9354658 DOI:
10.3389/fped.2022.870382]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Neonatal death often occurs in tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). In China, end-of-life-care (EOLC) does not always involve parents.
AIM
The aim of this study is to evaluate a parent support intervention to integrate parents at the end of life of their infant in the NICU.
METHODS
A quasi-experimental study using a non-randomized clinical trial design was conducted between May 2020 and September 2021. Participants were infants in an EOLC pathway in the NICU and their parents. Parents were allocated into a family supportive EOLC intervention group or a standard EOLC group based on their wishes. The primary outcomes depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for mothers; Hamilton Depression rating scale for fathers) and Satisfaction with Care were measured 1 week after infants' death. Student t-test for continuous variables and the Chi-square test categorical variables were used in the statistical analysis.
RESULTS
In the study period, 62 infants died and 45 infants and 90 parents were enrolled; intervention group 20 infants, standard EOLC group 25 infants. The most common causes of death in both groups were congenital abnormalities (n = 20, 44%). Mean gestational age of infants between the family supportive EOLC group and standard EOLC group was 31.45 vs. 33.8 weeks (p = 0.234). Parents between both groups did not differ in terms of age, delivery of infant, and economic status. In the family support group, higher education levels were observed among mother (p = 0.026) and fathers (p = 0.020). Both mothers and fathers in the family supportive EOLC group had less depression compared to the standard EOLC groups; mothers (mean 6.90 vs. 7.56; p = 0.017) and fathers (mean 20.7 vs. 23.1; p < 0.001). Parents reported higher satisfaction in the family supportive EOLC group (mean 88.9 vs. 86.6; p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Supporting parents in EOLC in Chinese NICUs might decreased their depression and increase satisfaction after the death of their infant. Future research needs to focus on long-term effects and expand on larger populations with different cultural backgrounds.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT05270915.
Collapse