Phenomenological Study of Women's Experiences of Neonatal Transport After Childbirth in Korea

OBJECTIVE

To explore the experiences of women in Korea who were separated from their newborns when they were transported to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to receive treatment.

DESIGN

Phenomenological.

SETTING

A university hospital with approximately 600 beds in Seoul, Korea.

PARTICIPANTS

Women who experienced neonatal transport after childbirth from March to May 2021 (N = 9).

METHODS

We collected data through individual in-depth interviews and analyzed them using Colaizzi's procedure.

RESULTS

We extracted four overarching themes that represented the experiences of participants: Outsider Left Alone, Enduring in a Different World, The Lost Starting Line, and Running Together.

CONCLUSION

Our findings captured the unique experiences of women whose newborns were transported from the hospitals where they were born to NICUs at other hospitals to receive treatment. It is necessary to develop and apply tailored nursing interventions, such as assessment and support for postpartum blues or depression, to ensure that postnatal care and healthy maternal transition are not hindered.

Effects of a Noncontact Visit Program in the NICU for the Prevention of COVID-19

BACKGROUND

With the spread of COVID-19, neonatal intensive care units restricted visiting hours to prevent infection. As a result, mothers of high-risk newborns were restricted from making contact with their children. Various problems could be encountered for hospitalized children and mothers of high-risk newborns due to restrictions on visits in the neonatal intensive care unit. Therefore, during the pandemic, continuous nursing support for mothers of high-risk newborns was needed.

METHODS

In this study, a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design was employed. The subjects of the study were 36 mothers of high-risk neonates (20 in the experimental group and 16 in the control group) in E University Hospital, D Metropolitan City, from July to September 2022. The experimental group received a 10 min program performed by a nurse from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. three times per week.

RESULTS

There were significant differences in nurses' support between the experimental and control groups (F = 25.594, p < 0.001), changes over time (F = 16.178, p < 0.001), and time-group interactions (F = 9.663, p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

It was interpreted that the real-time noncontact visitation program could transcend time and space for many mothers of high-risk newborn babies, who suffered psychologically due to restrictions and bans on visitations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Not being able to hug our baby before the cables: Early experiences of parents with premature babies

BACKGROUND

The nursing care provided after the intensive care period and discharge can contribute to the optimal growth and development of the baby while protecting the mental health of the parents.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to examine in detail the experiences of parents with premature babies about having a premature baby and their experiences with the hospitalization process of their babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

DESIGN

The methodological approach was informed by Van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenological methodology. The sample consisted of 15 parents who had a preterm baby in the NICU of a state hospital in Turkey.

RESULTS

The data obtained from this study were categorized under four themes: having a preterm baby, perception of intensive care, feelings toward nurses, emotions about discharge and home care.

CONCLUSIONS

Health professionals should know what the parents' perception of being a parent and having a premature baby is.

The physical and emotional health of South Korean mothers of preterm infants in the early postpartum period: a descriptive correlational study

PURPOSE

This study investigated the physical and emotional health of South Korean mothers of preterm infants in the early postpartum period.

METHODS

In this descriptive correlational study, the participants included 91 mothers of preterm infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital in South Korea. Physical health status was measured using a self-reported questionnaire, postpartum depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, anxiety using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and guilt using a 4-item scale.

RESULTS

Fatigue had the highest score among mothers' physical health problems, followed by shoulder pain, nipple pain, neck pain. The average postpartum depression score was 11.02 points, and 44% of women had postpartum depression with a score of 12 or above. Postpartum depression significantly was correlated with physical health (r=.35, p=.001), anxiety (r=.84, p<.001), and guilt (r=.75, p<.001) and was significantly higher for women with multiple births, and preterm infants who required ventilator and antibiotic treatment. Anxiety also showed a significant difference according to preterm infants' condition.

CONCLUSION

The significant correlations between postpartum depression and physical health, anxiety, and guilt indicate a need for nursing interventions that provide integrated management of mothers' physical and emotional health.

Analysis of research on developmentally supportive care for prematurity in neonatal intensive care unit: a scoping review

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify the gaps in research related to developmentally supportive care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The ultimate goal was to explore directions of further research on developmentally supportive care for premature patients.

Methods

The Arksey and O'Malley scoping review method was used. Articles on developmentally supportive care for preterm infants in the NICU, written in English or Korean, were identified through electronic search engines. A total of 279 papers were identified in the initial search, of which 22 full-text papers were included in this review.

Results

Several nursing studies have been published in the past 5 years. The important elements of developmentally supportive care were family-centered care and management of the NICU environment. The primary developmentally supportive care interventions were training programs to promote the care competency of NICU nurses.

Conclusion

It is necessary to actively develop comprehensive developmental support interventions that consider the various elements of developmentally supportive care for preterm infants. Additional studies should be done to develop programs that provide direct intervention for premature infant and their families.

Differences in perceived parental stress between parents with very low birth weight infants and nurses in neonatal intensive care units, South Korea

PURPOSE

This descriptive study compared the perceived parental stress levels between parents with very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) and nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

METHODS

In total, 83 parents of VLBWIs and 78 NICU nurses were enrolled. Data were collected with the Parental Stress Scale (PSS) and analyzed using the t-test and analysis of variance in SAS version 9.4.

RESULTS

The average PSS score was 3.31 among parents and 3.45 among nurses. The stress score was significantly higher among nurses with children (t=2.46, p=.016) and senior nurses (t=2.12, p=.037). There was a significant difference in the stress score according to parents' education (t=3.29, p=.002) and occupation (F=3.14, p=.049) in the sights and sounds subscale. Mothers had significantly higher stress scores than fathers in the parental role alterations subscale (t=2.32, p=.023). Parental stress scores were higher than those perceived by nurses in the infant's appearance and behaviors subscale for breathing patterns (t=2.95, p=.004), followed by jerky/restless behavior (t=2.70, p=.008).

CONCLUSION

Nurses should provide explanations to parents of VLBWIs in order to reduce parental stress about the appearances and behavior of VLBWIs. This is more important than aspect of the NICU environment and education about parental roles.

South Korean nurses' lived experiences supporting maternal postpartum bonding in the neonatal intensive care unit

Purpose: Preterm birth and admission to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can disrupt the parent-infant bonding relationship. Although neonatal nurses are in the best position to support maternal postpartum bonding in the NICU, few qualitative studies have described their challenges, strategies, and lived experiences. Methods: This study aimed to explore and understand the experiences and perspectives of nurses supporting infants hospitalized in the NICU and their families in relation to the bonding process. We conducted a qualitative study using interpretive phenomenological analysis with 12 in-depth, semi-structured interviews recorded and transcribed verbatim between April and November 2018. We thematically analysed the data using NVivoTM software. Results: Two themes emerged: (1) Being a bridge between separated mothers and infants (five subthemes); (2) Challenges in providing supportive care for maternal postpartum bonding in the NICU (three subthemes). Conclusions: Nurses have a variety of experiences regarding maternal postpartum bonding; however, the clinical reality of NICUs limits support for bonding formation. Although nurses face challenges (e.g., institutional policies, insufficient resources, training) when supporting maternal postpartum bonding, they act as the bridge between mothers and infants, becoming advocates for NICU families and taking care of their growth and developmental needs as caregivers.

Addressing the Needs of Mothers with Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Qualitative Secondary Analysis

PURPOSE

Mothers of infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) need to be recognized as essential partners of the care team as their presence and involvement are key to infants' health and developmental outcomes. Addressing mothers' perceived needs is beneficial for the improvement of supportive nursing care; however, little qualitative research on their unmet needs has been conducted in South Korea. This study assessed mothers' perspectives on their NICU experiences and their unmet needs within the South Korean cultural context.

METHOD

A cross-sectional, multicentered, secondary analysis study was conducted using the written responses to an open-ended questionnaire. Of the 344 NICU-experienced mothers, 232 throughout South Korea (seven cities and five provinces) voluntarily completed the questionnaire via smartphone-based or web-based surveys. Their narrative responses were analyzed using thematic content analysis guided by the critical incident technique.

RESULTS

Four themes emerged. NICU-experienced mothers of preterm infants referred to the "family-friendly environment" (16.4%) as a positive experience. The greatest unmet need was "relationship-based support" (58.2%), followed by "information and education-based support" (20.0%) and "system-level challenges" (5.4%).

CONCLUSION

The importance of creating a family-friendly NICU environment should be emphasized by ensuring 24-hour unrestricted access and encouraging active parental involvement in infant care, as well as actively supporting NICU families through supportive words and actions. The assurance of antiinfection management and better staffing levels should be fundamentally guaranteed to NICU staff.

The Relationship between Stress, Social Support, and Confidence in Paternal Role Perceived by Korean Fathers of High Risk Infants

PURPOSE

This study aimed to define the level of perceived stress, social support, and paternal role confidence in Korean fathers with high risk infants and investigate how they perceived stress and social support influence their confidence in paternal role.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A descriptive study was conducted. The participants were 160 fathers of high risk infants admitted for 72 h or longer in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Using a self-reported questionnaire, high risk infants' fathers' general characteristics, stress, social support, and confidence in paternal role were measured.

RESULTS

Fathers' low stress from the sights and sounds of the unit, more family members and fathers' awareness of the infants' prognosis were found to have a significant influence on paternal role confidence for high risk infants, explaining 18.7% variance in the effect.

CONCLUSIONS

To assist fathers in developing paternal role confidence in their parenting, nurses should comprehend the degree of stress experienced by fathers whose infants were hospitalized in an NICU and offer supportive nursing to them to help them cope with their stress.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

When preparing a nursing care plan for high risk infants and their fathers, if nurses help fathers to participate in infants' care and offer proper information to them to understand the environment of the NICU, actions taken for their infants, and infants' prognosis, the fathers' confidence in their paternal role is expected to improve.