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Executive summary: standards, competencies, and recommended best practices for infant- and family-centered
Joy V Browne1,2, Carol B Jaeger3, Carole Kenner4,5
1University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA. Joy.browne@childrenscolorado.org.
Insights
Developmental family-centered care enhances outcomes for newborns and families in intensive care. This approach integrates families with healthcare teams, standardizes practices, and improves infant and family well-being.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing
- Pediatric Developmental Psychology
- Family Systems Theory
Background:
- Developmental family-centered care is increasingly recognized as vital in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
- Existing research highlights the positive impacts of developmental care on infant and family outcomes.
- The evolution of NICU practices necessitates a structured approach to integrating families into care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and evaluate evidence for intensive care practices.
- To define and articulate evidence-based standards and competencies for infant and family-centered developmental care (IFCDC).
- To identify key components of IFCDC.
Main Methods:
- An interprofessional committee, including parents, conducted a systematic review.
- A consensus process was employed to evaluate the evidence.
- Standards, competencies, and best practices for IFCDC were developed.
Main Results:
- Standards, Competencies, and Recommended Best Practices for Infant and Family Centered Developmental Care (IFCDC) were articulated.
- Key components identified include systems thinking, positioning, touch, sleep, arousal, skin-to-skin contact, pain/stress reduction, and feeding.
- The consensus process established a framework for IFCDC.
Conclusions:
- Implementing IFCDC practices facilitates family integration with the NICU interprofessional team.
- Standardization of IFCDC practices can lead to improved patient and family outcomes.
- IFCDC represents an essential component of evolving intensive care for newborns and their families.
Objective:
Developmental family-centered care is evolving as an essential intensive care practice component for newborns and families. Research supports developmental care and the resulting positive outcomes for infants and families.
Study Design:
An interprofessional and parent committee utilized a systematic review and consensus process to evaluate the evidence for intensive care practice. Infant- and family-centered developmental care was described, practice components identified, and evidence-based standards and competencies articulated.
Results:
Consensus process results included articulation of Standards, Competencies and Recommended Best Practices for Infant and Family Centered Developmental Care (IFCDC), including components of systems thinking, positioning and touch, sleep and arousal, skin-to-skin contact, reduction of pain and stress for infants and families, and feeding.
Conclusions:
Successful IFCDC-recommended practices provide opportunities to integrate the family with the interprofessional team, standardize practice, and improve outcomes.
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