The Impact of Restrictive Family Presence Policies in Response to COVID-19 on Family Integrated Care in the NICU: A Qualitative Study

Objectives:

To conduct a needs assessment with families and their healthcare team to understand the impact of restrictive family presence policies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in response to COVID-19.

Background:

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, significant restrictive family presence policies were instituted in most NICUs globally intended to protect infants, families, and HCPs. However, knowledge on the impact of the stress of the pandemic and policies restricting family presence in the NICU on vulnerable neonates and their families remains limited.

Methods:

Individuals were eligible to participate if they were a caregiver of an infant requiring NICU care or a healthcare provider (HCP) in the NICU after March 1, 2020. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using a virtual communication platform, and transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic qualitative content analysis.

Results:

Twenty-three participants were interviewed (12 families and 11 HCPs). Three themes emerged: (1) successes (family-integrated care, use of technology), (2) challenges (lack of standardized messaging and family engagement, impact on parental wellbeing, institutional barriers, and virtual care), and (3) moving forward (responsive and supportive leadership).

Conclusions:

Our findings highlight the significant impact of family restrictions on the mental well-being of families, physical closeness with parents, and empathetic stress to HCPs. Further study of potential long-term impact is warranted.

A co-design of clinical virtual care pathways to engage and support families requiring neonatal intensive care in response to the COVID-19 pandemic (COVES study)

BACKGROUND

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, family presence restrictions in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) were enacted to limit disease transmission. This has resulted in communication challenges, negatively impacting family integrated care.

AIM

To develop clinical care pathways to ensure optimal neonatal care to support families in response to parental presence restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

An agile, co-design process utilizing expert consensus of a large interdisciplinary team and focus groups and semi-structured interviews with families and HCPs were used to co-design clinical virtual care pathways.

RESULTS

Three clinical virtual care pathways were co-designed: (1) building and maintaining relationships between family and healthcare providers; (2) awareness of resources; and (3) standardized COVID-19 messaging. Modifications were made to optimize uptake and utilization in the clinical areas.

CONCLUSION

Clinical care virtual pathways were successfully co-designed to meet these needs to ensure more equitable family centered care.

Narrative Symposium: Patient and Research Participant experiences with Genetic Testing

Twelve personal narratives address the challenges, benefits, and pitfalls of genetic testing. Three commentary articles explore these stories and suggest lessons that can be learned from them. The commentators come from backgrounds that include bioethics, public health, psychology, and philosophy.