Scaling Up the Family Integrated Care Model in a Level IIIC Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Systematic Approach to the Methods and Effort Taken for Implementation

Short and mid-term neonatal outcomes in high-risk infants undergoing FICare: a case control study

BACKGROUND

FICare model has been evaluated mostly on the stable preterm infant.We have scaled the model to two implementation levels(basic/advanced),making it suitable for all high-risk neonates.We report on the short- and mid-term outcomes of infants enrolled in a pilot on FICare implementation at our NICU.

METHODS

During 52 months study period,families were invited to join the program if their newborns' admission required neonatal specialized care for at least 3 weeks,and trained according to the program's curricula.Following a rigorous sequential admission order,each case(FICare group:134 < 34 weeks;52 term newborns)was matched by a contemporary control(CC:134 < 34 weeks;52 term newborns)and 2 historical controls born within the 3 years prior to FICare site implementation(HC:268 < 34 weeks;104 term newborns),cared as usual RESULTS: FICare intervention started by the end of first week of postnatal life.Rates of breastfeeding during admission and at discharge,and direct breastfeeding upon discharge were higher in FICare compared to CC and HC.Duration of intermediate care hospitalization(preterm and term cohorts)and total hospital length of stay (term cohorts)were shorter in FICare group.Use of Emergency Services after discharge was also lower in the FICare group CONCLUSIONS: Short and mid-term efficacy of FICare on health outcomes and family empowerment in a broader and highly-vulnerable neonatal population supports its generalization in complex healthcare neonatal services.

IMPACT STATEMENT

Scaling the FICare model to the critically ill, unstable premature and term infant is feasible and safe. The early intervention shows similar benefits in the short- and mid-term infants' outcomes in the whole spectrum of neonatal specialized 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.

RISEinFAMILY project: the integration of families at neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to empower them as primary caregivers: study protocol for a stepped wedge cluster controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Family Integrated Care (FICare) has demonstrated positive outcomes for sick neonates and has alleviated the psychological burden faced by families. FICare involves structured training for professionals and caregivers along with the provision of resources to offer physical and psychological support to parents. However, FICare implementation has been primarily limited to developed countries. It remains crucial to assess the scalability of this model in overcoming social-cultural barriers and conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis. The RISEinFAMILY project aims to develop an adapted FICare model that can serve as the international standard for neonatal care, accommodating various cultural, architectural, and socio-economic contexts.

METHODS

RISEinFAMILY is a pluri-cultural, stepped wedge cluster controlled trial conducted in Spain, Netherlands, the UK, Romania, Turkey, and Zambia. Eligible participants include infant-family dyads admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) requiring specialised neonatal care for a minimum expected duration of 7 days, provided there are no comprehension barriers. Notably, this study will incorporate a value of implementation analysis on FICare, which can inform policy decisions regarding investment in implementation activities, even in situations with diverse data.

DISCUSSION

This study aims to evaluate the scalability and adaptation of FICare across a broader range of geographical and sociocultural contexts and address its sustainability. Furthermore, it seeks to compare the RISEinFAMILY model with standard care, examining differences in short-term newborn outcomes, family mental health, and professional satisfaction.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06087666. Registered on 17 October 2023.

PROTOCOL VERSION

19 December 2022; version 2.2.

Architectural design, facilities and family participation in neonatal units in Spain: A multicentre study

AIM

The architecture of neonatal units plays a key role in developmental strategies and preterm outcomes. The aim was to evaluate the design of Spanish neonatal units and its impact on the participation of parents in neonatal care.

METHODS

A web-based survey was sent to all level III Spanish neonatal units, including questions about hospital data, architectural design, facilities and family participation.

RESULTS

The study included 63 units. Most units (87%) had part or all the intensive care patients located in open bay units, while 54% had at least one individual patient cubicle. Single family rooms, defined as those including enough space and furniture for family members to stay with the infant without restrictions, were available in 8 units (13%). Eighteen units (29%) had a structured programme of family education. Units with single family rooms were more likely to have parental participation in rounds (p < 0.01), safety protocols (p = 0.02), oxygen management (p < 0.01) and nasogastric tube feeding (p = 0.02), as well as to allow siblings to participate in kangaroo care (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Widely variable architectural designs and policies were found in Spanish neonatal units. The presence of single family rooms may have impacted the participation of parents in neonatal care.

Family engagement in paediatric acute care settings: A realist review

AIM

To create a programme theory of family engagement in paediatric acute care to explicate the relationships between contexts and mechanisms of family engagement that align with family, direct care providers and healthcare organization outcomes.

DESIGN

Realist review and synthesis.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Web of Science searches for the 2.5-year period (July 2019-December 2021) following our 2021 scoping review.

REVIEW METHODS

Following methods described by Pawson and Rycroft-Malone, we defined the scope of the review, searched for and appraised the evidence, extracted and synthesized study findings and developed a supporting narrative of our results.

RESULTS

Of 316 initial citations, 101 were included in our synthesis of the final programme theory. Contexts included family and direct care provider individualism, and the organizational care philosophy and environment. Mechanisms were family presence, family enactment of a role in the child's care, direct care providers facilitating a family role in the child's care, unit/organizational promotion of a family role, relationship building and mutually beneficial partnerships. Outcomes were largely family-focussed, with a paucity of organizational outcomes studied. We identified four context-mechanism-outcome configurations.

CONCLUSION

This realist review uncovered underlying contexts and mechanisms between patients, direct care providers and organizations in the family engagement process and key components of a mutually beneficial partnership. Given that successful family engagement requires direct care provider and organizational support, future research should expand beyond family outcomes to include direct care providers, particularly nurses and healthcare organization outcomes.

IMPACT

The final programme theory of family engagement in paediatric acute care provides a roadmap for clinicians to develop complex interventions to engage families and evaluate their impact. The components of our final programme theory reflect family engagement concepts that have been evolving for decades.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

The team conducting this review included members from the practice setting (JT & KG). In the future, as we and others use this model in practice, we will seek input for refinement from clinicians, patients and caregivers.

Impact of a family-centred clinical care programme on short-term outcomes of very low-birth weight infants

AIM

We evaluated the effects of a family-centred clinical care pathway and case management programme on short-term clinical outcome in a cohort of very low-birth weight (VLBW) infants.

METHODS

The programme, named NeoPAss, was developed at the Department of Neonatology Children's hospital Passau in 2013. Short-term outcomes of infants were compared to matched controls from the Bavarian neonatology surveillance database before (n = 111; 2008-2012) and after implementation (n = 170; 2014-2017).

RESULTS

After implementation the rate of late-onset sepsis was significantly lower (2.5% vs. 10.7%, p = 0.005) and the length of stay was significantly shorter (VLBW 28 to 31 weeks' gestational age (GA) 47.5 vs. 53.1 days, p = 0.047; <28 weeks' GA 79.4 vs. 91.9 days, p = 0.007) in the intervention group compared to controls. Infants were discharged with significantly lower weight (mean 2351 vs. 2539 g, p = 0.013). There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of intraventricular haemorrhage (3.7% vs. 8.2%), necrotizing enterocolitis (0.6% vs. 1.9%) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (0% vs. 6.9%).

CONCLUSION

Our data confirm that of other studies demonstrating a beneficial effect of family-centred care programmes and provides evidence that structured parental involvement is not associated with increased risk of infection in a VLBW cohort.

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.

Maternal mental health after infant discharge: a quasi-experimental clinical trial of family integrated care versus family-centered care for preterm infants in U.S. NICUs

BACKGROUND

Involvement in caregiving and tailored support services may reduce the risk of mental health symptoms for mothers after their preterm infant's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) discharge. We aimed to compare Family-Centered Care (FCC) with mobile-enhanced Family-Integrated Care (mFICare) on post-discharge maternal mental health symptoms.

METHOD

This quasi-experimental study enrolled preterm infant (≤ 33 weeks)/parent dyads from three NICUs into sequential cohorts: FCC or mFICare. We analyzed post-discharge symptoms of perinatal post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression using intention-to-treat and per protocol approaches.

RESULTS

178 mothers (89 FCC; 89 mFICare) completed measures. We found no main effect of group assignment. We found an interaction between group and stress, indicating fewer PTSD and depression symptoms among mothers who had higher NICU-related stress and received mFICare, compared with mothers who had high stress and received FCC (PTSD: interaction β=-1.18, 95% CI: -2.10, -0.26; depression: interaction β=-0.76, 95% CI: -1.53, 0.006). Per protocol analyses of mFICare components suggested fewer PTSD and depression symptoms among mothers who had higher NICU stress scores and participated in clinical team rounds and/or group classes, compared with mothers who had high stress and did not participate in rounds or classes.

CONCLUSION

Overall, post-discharge maternal mental health symptoms did not differ between the mFICare and FCC groups. However, for mothers with high levels of stress during the NICU stay, mFICare was associated with fewer post-discharge PTSD and depression symptoms.

A Pilot Study of Family-Integrated Care (FICare) in Critically Ill Preterm and Term Infants in the NICU: FICare Plus

Family-integrated care (FICare) is associated with improved developmental outcomes and decreased parental mental health risks in stable preterm infants. However, less is known about its application in critically ill infants who are at greater risk for adverse outcomes. The objective of this study was to assess the safety and feasibility of implementation of an augmented FICare program, FICare Plus, in critically ill infants in the first few weeks of life. Resources were specifically developed for staff and parents to support earlier parental engagement in infant care. Infant health outcomes and standardized measures of parental stress, anxiety and parenting self-efficacy were also collected using standardized questionnaires: State -Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Parental Stressor Scale: NICU (PSS: NICU), Perceived Parenting Self-Efficacy Tool and Family Centered Care Survey. The t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used to compare continuous variables, while the Chi-square or Fisher exact test were used for categorical variables, respectively. In this prospective cohort study, 41 critically ill infants were enrolled: 17 in standard care (SC) and 24 in the FICare Plus group. The tools and procedures developed for FICare Plus successfully supported greater engagement in the care of their infants with no increase in adverse events and no increase in parental stress. Parents in the FICare Plus cohort felt confident to participate in their infant's care. The staff also found this model of care acceptable and well adopted. Preliminary measures of infant efficacy were similar in both groups. Total anxiety scores were high among all parents at enrollment (87 (67-94) vs. 70.5 (66-86); p-value 0.22). However, the scores prior to discharge were lower in FICare Plus group (78 (71-90) vs. 63 (52-74.5); p-value 0.02). This pilot study showed that it is feasible and safe to implement family-integrated care in critically ill infants.

Improving Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Quality and Safety with Family-Centered Care

There is strong evidence that family-centered care (FCC) improves the health and safety of infants and families in neonatal settings. In this review, we highlight the importance of common, evidence-based quality improvement (QI) methodology applied to FCC and the imperative to engage in partnership with neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) families. To further optimize NICU care, families should be included as essential team members in all NICU QI activities, not only FCC QI activities. Recommendations are provided for building inclusive FCC QI teams, assessing FCC, creating culture change, supporting health-care practitioners and working with parent-led organizations.

Neonatal outcomes from a quasi-experimental clinical trial of Family Integrated Care versus Family-Centered Care for preterm infants in U.S. NICUs

BACKGROUND

Family Integrated Care (FICare) benefits preterm infants compared with Family-Centered Care (FCC), but research is lacking in United States (US) Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). The outcomes for infants of implementing FICare in the US are unknown given differences in parental leave benefits and health care delivery between the US and other countries where FICare is used. We compared preterm weight and discharge outcomes between FCC and mobile-enhanced FICare (mFICare) in the US.

METHODS

In this quasi-experimental study, we enrolled preterm infant (≤ 33 weeks)/parent dyads from 3 NICUs into sequential cohorts: FCC or mFICare. Our primary outcome was 21-day change in weight z-scores. Our secondary outcomes were nosocomial infection, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and human milk feeding (HMF) at discharge. We used intention-to-treat analyses to examine the effect of the FCC and mFICare models overall and per protocol analyses to examine the effects of the mFICare intervention components.

FINDINGS

253 infant/parent dyads participated (141 FCC; 112 mFICare). There were no parent-related adverse events in either group. In intention-to-treat analyses, we found no group differences in weight, ROP, BPD or HMF. The FCC cohort had 2.6-times (95% CI: 1.0, 6.7) higher odds of nosocomial infection than the mFICare cohort. In per-protocol analyses, we found that infants whose parents did not receive parent mentoring or participate in rounds lost more weight relative to age-based norms (group-difference=-0.128, CI: -0.227, -0.030; group-difference=-0.084, CI: -0.154, -0.015, respectively). Infants whose parents did not participate in rounds or group education had 2.9-times (CI: 1.0, 9.1) and 3.8-times (CI: 1.2, 14.3) higher odds of nosocomial infection, respectively.

CONCLUSION

We found indications that mFICare may have direct benefits on infant outcomes such as weight gain and nosocomial infection. Future studies using implementation science designs are needed to optimize intervention delivery and determine acute and long-term infant and family outcomes.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT03418870 01/02/2018.