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Family centred care? Facilities, information and support for parents in UK neonatal units
M E Redshaw1, K E StC Hamilton,
1National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK. maggie.redshaw@npeu.ox.ac.uk
Insights
UK neonatal units offer varied parent support, with gaps in communication, information, and facilities. Enhancing family-centered care requires addressing these inconsistencies for better neonatal outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care practices
- Parental support systems
- Family-centered care in healthcare settings
Background:
- Parental involvement is crucial for infant well-being during neonatal care.
- Effective communication and support systems are essential for families with infants in neonatal units.
- Existing literature highlights variability in parental support across neonatal units.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the current state of parent communication, support, and information provision in UK neonatal units.
- To identify specific facilities, policies, and support mechanisms available to parents.
- To assess the extent to which UK neonatal units implement family-centered care principles.
Main Methods:
- A national survey was conducted across UK neonatal units.
- Practices and policies concerning parental needs during neonatal care were investigated.
- Data collected focused on unit facilities, information availability, and support services.
Main Results:
- Parental support varies significantly, with limited facilities in some units (e.g., shared rooms for intensive care).
- Availability of written information on equipment, ventilation, and breastfeeding is inconsistent.
- Access to medical notes and participation in ward rounds differ, with limited access to mental health support and family care nurses.
Conclusions:
- UK neonatal units demonstrate variable implementation of family-centered care policies and practices.
- Significant gaps exist in providing comprehensive support, information, and communication for parents.
- Neonatal units must prioritize addressing these deficiencies to improve family-centered care.
Objective:
To assess how UK neonatal units address parent communication, support and information needs during neonatal care and the early months after discharge.
Design:
All units were invited to participate in a survey of practice and policy relating to the needs of parents with babies admitted for neonatal care.
Setting:
Neonatal care, UK.
Main Outcome Measures:
Proportions of units by unit level providing specific facilities, information, policies and support mechanisms.
Results:
Facilities, information and support for parents vary and can be quite limited: units may have as many as 10 babies receiving intensive or high dependency care in one room; 24% have no rooms in which to accommodate one or two babies only; 96% have at least one room for parents to stay overnight, 27% of rooms have ensuite amenities; 72% have written information about the equipment used, 64 % on ventilation and 91% on breastfeeding; parents have free access to notes in 20% of units and in 14% parents are excluded from ward rounds; 27% have a policy on keeping in contact with parents, 47% did not have the services of a social worker, psychologist, counsellor or psychiatrist and only 15% have a unit-based family care nurse.
Conclusions:
Elements of unit policy and practice that support family-centred care are variably in place currently and units need to address the gaps.
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