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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Comprehensive mapping of NICU developmental care nursing interventions and related sensitive outcome indicators: a
Marjolaine Héon1,2, Marilyn Aita3,2,4, Andréane Lavallée3,4
1Faculty of Nursing, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada marjolaine.heon@umontreal.ca marjolaine.heon@umontreal.ca.
Insights
Developmental care (DC) nursing interventions in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are crucial for preterm infant neurodevelopment. This review identifies specific DC interventions and nursing-sensitive outcomes to enhance care quality.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Nursing
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Evidence-Based Practice
Background:
- Neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants remain a significant clinical concern.
- Developmental Care (DC) interventions aim to mitigate adverse effects of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization on infant development and parental well-being.
- Existing literature offers broad DC models but lacks specific, actionable interventions for NICU nurses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a comprehensive scoping review of the literature on DC nursing interventions for preterm infants in the NICU.
- To identify and categorize specific DC interventions implemented by nurses.
- To propose nursing-sensitive outcome indicators relevant to DC interventions in the NICU.
Main Methods:
- A scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology.
- Extensive database searches (CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, PsycInfo) from 2009 to present.
- Qualitative content analysis of included English and French papers, with independent data extraction by two reviewers.
Main Results:
- The review synthesized the range and nature of DC nursing interventions described in the literature.
- Specific DC interventions were identified and categorized.
- Potential nursing-sensitive outcome indicators for DC were suggested.
Conclusions:
- There is a need for clearly defined, evidence-based DC nursing interventions in the NICU.
- Identifying nursing-sensitive outcomes will better demonstrate the impact of nurses' contributions to developmental care.
- Further research should focus on implementing and evaluating specific DC interventions and their outcomes.
Introduction:
Neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infant are still a contemporary concern. To counter the detrimental effects resulting from the hospitalisation in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), developmental care (DC) interventions have emerged as a philosophy of care aimed at protecting and enhancing preterm infant's development and promoting parental outcomes. In the past two decades, many authors have suggested DC models, core measures, practice guidelines and standards of care but outlined different groupings of interventions rather than specific interventions that can be used in NICU clinical practice. Moreover, as these DC interventions are mostly implemented by neonatal nurses, it would be strategic and valuable to identify specific outcome indicators to make visible the contribution of NICU nurses to DC.
Objectives:
The overarching objective of this review is to identify the nature, range, and extent of the literature regarding DC nursing interventions for preterm infants in the NICU. The secondary twofold objectives are to highlight interventions that fall into identified categories of DC interventions and suggest nursing-sensitive outcome indicators related to DC interventions in the NICU.
Inclusion Criteria:
Papers reporting on or discussing a DC nursing intervention during NICU hospitalisation will be included.
Methods And Analysis:
The Joanna Briggs Institute's methodology for scoping reviews will be followed. CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest and PsycInfo databases from 2009 to the present will be searched. Any type of paper, published in English or French, will be considered. Study selection and data extraction will be conducted by pairs of two review authors independently. A qualitative content analysis will be conducted.
Ethics And Dissemination:
No Institutional Review Board ethical approbation is needed. Results of this review will be presented in scientific meetings and published in refereed papers.
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