Recommendations on supporting neonatology healthcare givers from the French National Society

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Occupational health
• Psychosocial risk management

Background:

• Healthcare providers in neonatal units experience high stress levels.
• This exposure places them at risk for various pathologies, impacting both personal health and patient care.
• Psychosocial risks like stress, moral distress, and burnout syndrome are prevalent.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop evidence-based recommendations for supporting healthcare givers in neonatal care units.
• Focus on mitigating psychosocial risks including stress, moral distress, burnout syndrome, and secondary stress syndrome.
• Enhance the well-being and resilience of neonatal healthcare professionals.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed (January 2017 - December 2023) using keywords: burnout, moral distress, and neonatal unit.
• Development of recommendations through internal and external review by a multidisciplinary group.
• Inclusion of 15 professionals and parent representatives in the review process.

Main Results:

• 15 recommendations were formulated, based on 118 eligible studies from an initial 207 identified.
• Recommendations address individual, collective (departmental), and institutional levels.
• Strategies include environmental organization, communication training, team cohesion, respect for working hours, and institutional support.

Conclusions:

• Psychosocial risks pose significant threats to neonatal healthcare givers and potentially to patient care.
• Current prevention, screening, and treatment strategies for these risks are underdeveloped.
• A comprehensive institutional review of care models is essential for effective risk management and support.