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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
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Published on: August 25, 2014

Parental stress and satisfaction in the non-tertiary special care nursery

Jann Foster1, John Bidewell, Adam Buckmaster

  • 1New South Wales Pregnancy and Newborn Services Network, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia. jfoster@perinatal.usyd.edu.au

Journal of Advanced Nursing
|February 12, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Parental stress levels were similar for infants receiving headbox oxygen or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in special care nurseries. However, parents reported higher satisfaction with CPAP, indicating no significant correlation between stress and satisfaction.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Pediatric respiratory support
  • Parental well-being

Background:

  • Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is widely used in special care nurseries.
  • Limited data exists on the impact of different respiratory support methods on parental stress and satisfaction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effects of headbox oxygen versus CPAP on parental stress and satisfaction.
  • To explore the relationship between parental stress and satisfaction in infants receiving respiratory support.

Main Methods:

  • Parental stress and satisfaction were measured using validated questionnaires in five special care nurseries.
  • Data was collected from August 2004 to June 2006.

Main Results:

  • High stress levels were reported by parents in both treatment groups.
  • No significant difference in parental stress was found between headbox oxygen and CPAP groups.
  • Parents of infants receiving CPAP reported significantly higher satisfaction compared to the headbox oxygen group.

Conclusions:

  • Neither headbox oxygen nor CPAP needs to be favored over the other to minimize parental environmental stress.
  • Further research is recommended to develop and test parental stress reduction strategies in special care settings.
Abstract

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