Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2025

Short-Duration Hypothermia Induction in Rats using Models for Studies examining Clinical Relevance and Mechanisms
05:00

Short-Duration Hypothermia Induction in Rats using Models for Studies examining Clinical Relevance and Mechanisms

Published on: March 3, 2021

3.0K

Experiences of parents whose school-aged children were treated with therapeutic hypothermia as newborns: A focus

Sari Kokkonen Nassef1, Mats Blennow Bohlin1,2, Maria Jirwe3,4

  • 1Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Paediatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Nursing Open
|September 27, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Parents experienced long-lasting psychological effects from therapeutic hypothermia (TH) for their newborns after perinatal asphyxia. Improved communication and support are crucial for families undergoing TH treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Developmental pediatrics
  • Psychological impact of medical treatment

Background:

  • Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is a standard treatment for newborns with perinatal asphyxia to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • Understanding the long-term parental experience of TH is essential for comprehensive care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe parents' long-term experiences (10-13 years post-treatment) with therapeutic hypothermia for their newborn infants following perinatal asphyxia.
  • To identify the lasting psychological and daily life challenges faced by parents.

Main Methods:

  • Qualitative descriptive study utilizing focus groups (FGs) with parents.
  • Fifteen parents of infants treated with TH between 2007-2009 participated in five FGs.
  • Verbatim FG transcripts were analyzed using a framework approach, adhering to SRQR guidelines.

Main Results:

  • Parents reported significant psychological hardships and struggles in everyday life, extending years after TH treatment.
  • Key themes included concern and gratitude for treatment, insufficient information, and the ongoing impact of unprocessed experiences.
  • Challenges persisted in school and daily life, highlighting the need for sustained support.

Conclusions:

  • Therapeutic hypothermia profoundly affects parents psychologically, with effects lasting years beyond the initial treatment.
  • Ineffective communication from healthcare professionals and schools contributed to parental distress.
  • Proactive identification of infant and family needs before discharge is vital to prevent long-term concerns.
Abstract

Keywords:
focus groupsframework approachneonatal nursingparental experiencesperinatal asphyxiaqualitative researchtherapeutic hypothermia

More Related Videos

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management06:43

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management

Published on: November 21, 2017

24.4K
Author Spotlight: Assessing the Feasibility of Using Amplitude-Integrated EEG During Neonatal Transport05:15

Author Spotlight: Assessing the Feasibility of Using Amplitude-Integrated EEG During Neonatal Transport

Published on: June 21, 2024

739

Related Concept Videos

Decreased Body Temperature01:29

Decreased Body Temperature

A decreased body temperature can occur in patients with hypothermia and frostbite. Heat loss with extended cold exposure overpowers the body's ability to create heat, resulting in hypothermia. Core temperature readings help classify hypothermia. Mild hypothermia is temperatures between 32 °C (89.6 °F) and 35°C (95 °F) and is caused by impaired thermoregulation. Moderate hypothermia is temperatures between 28 C (82.4 °F) and 32 °C (89.6 °F) caused by...
639
Methods of reducing fever01:22

Methods of reducing fever

The signs and symptoms of fever include hot and dry skin, flushed face, thirst, muscle aches, anorexia, headache, tachycardia, tachypnea, and fatigue. Elevated body temperature is reduced using two methods: pharmacological and nonpharmacological. Proper identification and treatment of the root cause of a fever is of utmost importance.
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
691
Factors Affecting Body Temperature01:28

Factors Affecting Body Temperature

As a nurse, it is vital to understand the factors affecting body temperature to monitor variations and effectively evaluate deviations from regular.
Factors may  include:
4.3K
Homeostatic Imbalances in Body Temperature01:19

Homeostatic Imbalances in Body Temperature

Hyperthermia occurs when the body's temperature becomes unusually high, often due to heat exposure, intense physical activity, or certain illnesses. This condition can create a dangerous cycle where elevated body temperature increases the metabolic rate, generating more heat and potentially leading to organ failure and brain damage. A severe form of hyperthermia, called heat stroke, can raise body temperature to life-threatening levels. Fever, on the other hand, is a controlled form of...
147
Thermosensation01:43

Thermosensation

Peripheral thermosensation is the perception of external temperature. A change in temperature (on the surface of the skin and other tissues) is detected by a family of temperature-sensitive ion channels called Transient Receptor Potential, or TRP, receptors. These receptors are located on free nerve endings. Those detecting cold temperatures are closer to the surface of the skin than the nerve endings detecting warmth. These thermoTRP channels, while temperature selective, have relatively...
30.5K
Increased Body Temperature01:25

Increased Body Temperature

A body temperature above  38°C  (100.4 °F) is known as fever or pyrexia, and a person with fever is termed 'febrile.' Typically, the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that acts as the body's thermostat, regulates body temperature through a thermoregulatory setpoint. It receives signals from cold and warm thermal receptors throughout the body and adjusts the body's temperature accordingly. Fever occurs when this hypothalamic setpoint is altered, usually in...
699