Parent Distress Related to Infant Appearance in the NICU
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Date
2021-05
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
The Ohio State University
Abstract
Objectives: Parents of infants treated in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are often overwhelmed with emotions regarding multiple factors encased in the NICU setting. This study explores what parents find the most distressing in respect to their infant's appearance throughout their hospital stay.
Methods: This was a qualitative study utilizing an optional paper-pencil survey that parents responded to the question, "What is the most distressing thing you see in your baby?" Parents responded weekly for each week they were in the study (maximum of 12 weeks). Responses were transcribed and analyzed by two nurse scientists and one senior nursing student using manifest content analysis.
Setting: The sample included 78 mothers and 53 fathers whose infant was admitted in a neonatal intensive care unit at large children's hospital in the Midwestern United States. Of this sample, there were 49 dyad couples, 29 lone mothers, and 4 lone fathers who participated in this study.
Demographics: Overall, parents of 82 infants responded. Comments were de-identified using a participant number. Out of all the participating groups, the number of participants in the specific groups is as shown: Group A: 42 infants, Group B: 33 Infants, Group C: 7 Infants. Of the 78 mothers in this study, 5 identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Results: Four core concepts, or themes, emerged from the content analysis of the transcripts: What is seen and known; What is seen, but unknown; What is unseen, but known; and What is unseen and not known. Various factors influenced the parents' perception of what was the most distressing thing they saw in their baby including medical interventions, understanding of infant's prognosis, technology within the room, and recognition of infant's symptoms and treatment.
Conclusion: Continued research is needed to understand how the NICU environment affects parents' views of their critically ill or unstable infants. In doing so, health care providers can address parent concerns thereby increasing levels of comfort and trust with the treatment team.
Description
26th Annual Denman Undergraduate Research Forum 2nd place
Keywords
NICU, Parent Distress, Neonatal, Infant, Neonatal Intensive Care, Infant Appearance