Developmentally Supportive Care in Congenital Heart Disease: A Concept Analysis
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Published on: July 18, 2014
Jennifer K Peterson1, Lorraine S Evangelista1
1Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States.
Insights
Developmentally supportive care can improve outcomes for children with congenital heart disease who are at risk for developmental delays. This care model needs adaptation for the unique needs of this patient population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neonatal Intensive Care
Background:
- Improved survival rates in congenital heart disease (CHD) have highlighted a high incidence of developmental delay in survivors.
- Existing developmentally supportive care models, effective in premature infants, may not fully address the needs of the broader CHD population across all ages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a concept analysis of developmentally supportive care tailored for neonates, infants, and children with congenital heart disease.
- To establish a theoretical definition of developmentally supportive care applicable to this specific high-risk population.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Walker and Avant concept analysis method.
- Focused on identifying and defining core characteristics of developmentally supportive care.
Main Results:
- A theoretical definition of developmentally supportive care was established.
- Key characteristics for application in the CHD population were identified.
Conclusions:
- This analysis provides a theoretical foundation for nurses and allied health professionals to implement family-centered, developmentally supportive care for children with CHD.
- It addresses the critical need for tailored interventions to mitigate developmental sequelae in this vulnerable group.
Theoretical Principles:
Improved survival of infants and children with congenital heart disease experience has led to recognition that up to half of congenital heart disease survivors also experience developmental delay. Developmentally supportive care is a care model shown in Neonatal Intensive Care Units to be associated with improved outcomes, but developmentally supportive practices with premature infants may not be equally effective in the cardiac population that includes all ages.
Phenomena Addressed:
The purpose of this paper is to present a concept analysis using the Walker and Avant method in order to identify and define characteristics of developmentally supportive care as it may be applied to the population of neonates, infants, and children with congenital heart disease. A theoretical definition of developmentally supportive care is presented.
Research Linkages:
This concept analysis will provide nurses and allied health professionals with a theoretical basis to implement high quality, family-centered care that meets individual developmental needs in a population at high risk for developmental sequelae. Nursing implications for developmentally supportive care as it applies to infants and children with heart disease are discussed.
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