Factors affecting visitation of sick newborns
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Parents of infants in intensive care nurseries visit less frequently and incur higher costs when traveling from out-of-town. Key barriers include sibling care, work demands, travel expenses, and distance.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) care
- Pediatric healthcare access
- Family-centered care studies
Background:
- Parental presence in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is crucial for infant well-being and family adjustment.
- Geographical distance and socioeconomic factors can significantly impact parental ability to visit NICU-admitted infants.
- Understanding visiting patterns is essential for optimizing family support and care delivery in neonatal settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze visiting patterns of parents with infants admitted to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
- To identify factors influencing the frequency and cost of parental visits.
- To compare visiting behaviors between inborn infants and those transferred from other towns.
Main Methods:
- A 6-month study involving 167 NICU admissions.
- Data collection through visit logs and parent interviews.
- Analysis of visiting frequency, cost, and precluding factors, comparing inborn (Group A) and out-of-town (Group B) infants.
Main Results:
- Out-of-town parents (Group B) visited less frequently (3.6 visits/week) and incurred higher costs ($328.00) compared to inborn parents (Group A) (6.59 visits/week, $135.00).
- Group B parents reported lower salaries, visited less, and made fewer phone inquiries than Group A.
- Visiting frequency correlated with social class; primary barriers included sibling care, work, travel cost, and distance.
Conclusions:
- Geographical origin and socioeconomic status significantly affect parental NICU visiting patterns and associated costs.
- Barriers such as sibling care, work, and travel expenses limit parental engagement in neonatal care.
- Healthcare providers should consider these factors to support families of NICU patients, especially those from distant locations.
Abstract:
A study of visiting patterns to an intensive care nursery over a 6-month period was undertaken. Data on visits were obtained from 167 admissions, 99 of which were from infants transferred from other towns. In addition, the parents were interviewed to determine factors precluding visiting. Inborn (Group A) and out-of-town (Group B) data were analyzed. For Group A, the mean number of weekly visits was 6.59 (range, 1.7-16.5) and the total cost of visiting during hospitalization was $135.00 (range, 5.76-649.36); for Group B, the figures were 3.6 (range, 0.1-12.4) and $328.00 (range, 12.96-1523.36), respectively. Parents in Group B visited less often, made fewer telephone inquiries, and earned a lower salary than parents in Group A. Frequency of visits was correlated to social class. The most commonly identified factors limiting visiting were care of siblings, demands of work, cost of the trip, and distance.