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Updated: Jan 25, 2026
A Piglet Model of Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
Published on: May 16, 2015
Parental participation during therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
Emilia Biskop1, Therese Paulsdotter1, Lena Hellström Westas2
1University Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Uppsala, Sweden.
Insights
Parental participation in newborn care during therapeutic hypothermia is feasible. Factors like in-born status and on-site accommodation significantly impact parental involvement in neonatal intensive care units.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Perinatal medicine
- Pediatric intensive care
Background:
- Therapeutic hypothermia is a critical intervention for newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
- Parental involvement is increasingly recognized as vital for infant well-being and developmental outcomes.
- Limited data exists on parental participation during therapeutic hypothermia, especially concerning logistical factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the extent of parental engagement in the care of newborns undergoing therapeutic hypothermia.
- To analyze how infant's in-born vs. out-born status affects parental participation.
- To explore the influence of parental accommodation location (in-NICU vs. elsewhere) on their involvement.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, quantitative, and descriptive study design.
- Review of 112 infant medical charts from a regional referral center for hypothermia treatment (2007-2015).
- Assessment of parental participation in infant holding, tube feeding, and diaper changes, correlated with infant origin and parental accommodation.
Main Results:
- Parents actively participated in holding (54%) and tube feeding (53%) their infants.
- Parents of in-born infants showed significantly higher rates of checking feeding tube placement (46% vs. 17%) and diaper changes (38% vs. 16%) compared to parents of out-born infants.
- Mothers and fathers staying in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) demonstrated greater involvement than those accommodated elsewhere.
Conclusions:
- Active parental participation is achievable even when infants require therapeutic hypothermia.
- Facilitating timely parental transfer and providing on-site accommodation for out-born infants can enhance parental involvement.
- Optimizing parental presence and engagement is crucial for supporting infants receiving intensive care.
Objectives:
To examine parental participation in the care of newborn infants receiving therapeutic hypothermia, and to explore the possible impact of in-born vs out-born status, and location of hospital accommodation.
Study Design:
Retrospective, quantitative and descriptive design.
Main Outcome Measures:
Infants medical charts were reviewed for defined aspects of parental participation (infant holding, tube feeding, and diaper change), and related to their in-born vs out-born status, and whether the parents were accommodated in the NICU or elsewhere. All infants have been cared for at the University Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, serving as a regional referral center for hypothermia treatment. This study is a part of a population-based regional cohort of asphyxiated newborn infants (n = 112) that received therapeutic hypothermia in 2007-2015.
Results:
Parents engaged in holding (60/112, 54%) or tube feeding (59/112, 53%) their infant. Parents of in-born infants (24/112, 21%) were more likely to check the placement of the feeding tube (11/24, 46% vs 15/88, 17%; p < 0.01) and change diapers (9/24, 38% vs 14/88, 16%; p < 0.05) than parents of out-born infants (88/112, 79%). A similar pattern of more extensive involvement was observed for both mothers and fathers who stayed at the neonatal intensive care compared to those accommodated elsewhere (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Active parental participation is feasible at the NICU even during therapeutic hypothermia. Timely postnatal transfer of parents of out-born/transported infants, and the provision of on-site accommodation may influence the quality of parental involvement.
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