scholarly journals Parents’ Perceived Mental Distress When Their Infant is Admitted to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) a Quantitative Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inger Hilde Hagen ◽  
Marit Føllsvik Svindseth ◽  
Frøydis Perny Vasset
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Education Level ◽  
University Education ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Mothers And Fathers

Abstract Background. It is normal for parents to experience a range of emotions and changes in behaviour while their newborn infant is in the NICU. The stress experienced by these parents during their infant’s hospital stay is found to affect the parent-infant relationship and their ability to bond reciprocally. Several studies have pointed out that support from family and friends can be useful for parents’ mental distress in this situation. Some differences are found between mothers’ and fathers’ experiences of the support. The aim of the current study is to examine parents’ perceived mental distress when their infant is admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and factors important for their support. The relationship between parents perceived mental distress and satisfaction with NICU care are spare researched. Methods. A multicentre prospective cohort study. A total of 568 parental participants from six different NICUs geographically spread throughout Norway. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-6) were used to collect data. All the responses were rated and analysed using parametric analysis methods, descriptive statistics, logistic regression, factor analyses and linear regression analyses.Results. A total of 275 mothers reported receiving support from family and friends compared with 232 fathers. Younger parents had a higher OR of reporting anxiety compared with that of older parents. Parents with a primary or high school education level showed a higher OR of satisfaction than did parents with a college or university education level.Conclusion. There are differences in mothers’ and fathers’ responses to their experiences of various distress symptoms related to their children being in the NICU, as well as their received support from family and friends. There are also outcome differences between the age and education level of the parents and their experience of stress in the NICU. Mothers are more distressed and have more anxiety and depression than do fathers have.Trail registration: This project was first presented to the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics which reported that the project was outside its mandate (2015/386). The project is approved from the Norwegian Data Protection Officials.

Newborn in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Parental Concerns

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 196-198
Author(s):  
Pardeep Dhingra
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Parental Satisfaction ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Care Providers

Background: Having a newborn baby admitted in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be a stressful experience for the parents. Objectives: This study was planned to know the following: 1. The concerns of parents whose babies were admitted in NICU 2. Parental satisfaction level about the services provided 3. Assessment of parents for their understanding and knowledge at discharge Study Design: Semiqualitative interview. Participants: Parents of 100 (56 M, 44 F) neonates. Intervention: We subjected them to a semiqualitative interview on the day of discharge of their newborn infant. Questionnaire consisted of parent’s understanding regarding NICU and health care providers, their perspective about the possible cause of illness in their baby along with competence and communication skills of health care providers. Parental satisfaction about the services was assessed by the short assessment of patient satisfaction (SAPS). They were assessed for their anxiety and depression levels by hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). They were assessed for their knowledge about care of baby at home after discharge by patient knowledge questionnaire (PKQ). Results: Parents of 44% babies had no prior idea about NICU and why babies need to be admitted. In total, 48% mothers and 36% fathers had clinically significant anxiety levels as assessed by HADS. Many parents complained about lack of communication about their babies illness, its cause, duration of treatment, and prognosis. Both parents scored the caregivers on borderline scores on the SAPS. At discharge only 13% knew the correct dose and duration of medicines prescribed. PKQ scores varied from 5 to 20. Almost all parents emphasized the need for more space, resting place for mothers, and better communication by doctors. Conclusions: This study reveals a significant communication gap between health care providers and parents. Concerns of parents have to be addressed to have their full participation in newborn care.

scholarly journals Mothers and fathers in NICU: The impact of preterm birth on parental distress

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 604-621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Ionio ◽  
Caterina Colombo ◽  
Valeria Brazzoduro ◽  
Eleonora Mascheroni ◽  
Emanuela Confalonieri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
Mothers And Fathers ◽  
Negative Feelings ◽  
The Impact

Preterm birth is a stressful event for families. In particular, the unexpectedly early delivery may cause negative feelings in mothers and fathers. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between preterm birth, parental stress and negative feelings, and the environmental setting of NICU. 21 mothers (age = 36.00 ± 6.85) and 19 fathers (age = 34.92 ± 4.58) of preterm infants (GA = 30.96 ± 2.97) and 20 mothers (age = 40.08 ± 4.76) and 20 fathers (age = 40.32 ± 6.77) of full-term infants (GA = 39.19 ± 1.42) were involved. All parents filled out the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Impact of Event Scale Revised, Profile of Mood States, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Post-Partum Bonding Questionnaire. Our data showed differences in emotional reactions between preterm and full-term parents. Results also revealed significant differences between mothers and fathers’ responses to preterm birth in terms of stress, negative feelings, and perceptions of social support. A correlation between negative conditions at birth (e.g., birth weight and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit stay) and higher scores in some scales of Impact of Event Scale Revised, Profile of Mood States and Post-Partum Bonding Questionnaire were found. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit may be a stressful place both for mothers and fathers. It might be useful to plan, as soon as possible, interventions to help parents through the experience of the premature birth of their child and to begin an immediately adaptive mode of care.

scholarly journals Stress and feelings in mothers and fathers in NICU: identifying risk factors for early interventions

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Ionio ◽  
Eleonora Mascheroni ◽  
Caterina Colombo ◽  
Francesca Castoldi ◽  
Gianluca Lista
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Young Age ◽  
Mothers And Fathers ◽  
Father Relationship ◽  
Negative Feelings

Abstract Aims The aims of this study were to explore parents’ stress levels and negative feelings after premature births and to identify the risk factors related to parents’ stress and negative feelings during their children’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay. Background Preterm birth is a multi-problematic event that may put the babies in danger for both their medical and neurophysiological conditions and could have a negative impact on both the mother–father relationship and the parent–child interactions. Methods The study involved 43 mothers and 38 fathers of preterm infants. All participants filled out the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the Profile of Mood States. Findings The results revealed significant differences between mothers’ and fathers’ responses to preterm births in terms of both stress and negative feelings. We found that, for mothers, their own young age and the baby’s need for respiratory support were significant predictors of stress; for fathers, their own young age and the baby’s lower gestational age and worse condition at birth were significant predictors of stress and negative feelings. The NICU may be a stressful place both for mothers and fathers. Identifying which mothers and fathers are at risk immediately after their children are born could help to direct specific interventions that can reduce these parents’ stress and prevent them from negative feelings.

Using the EPDS to Identify Anxiety in Mothers of Infants on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara M. Stasik-O’Brien ◽  
Jennifer E. McCabe-Beane ◽  
Lisa S. Segre
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Cutoff Score ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
First Time ◽  
Anxiety Subscale

Despite the prevalence of postpartum depression and anxiety, current screening recommendations are limited to depression symptoms. Screening using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale–Anxiety subscale (EPDS-A) may enhance ability to detect distress in postpartum women. We aimed to replicate the EPDS-A in 200 mothers with infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and examine its incremental utility in identifying emotional distress. Presence of the EPDS-A was identified using exploratory factor analysis. Women experiencing elevated anxiety were identified using a previously established cutoff score. Results replicated the EPDS-A for the first time in mothers with infants hospitalized in the NICU. In all, 21.9% of these women had elevated anxiety symptoms and nearly one quarter of them would have been missed in routine depression screening. Use of the EPDS-A, in addition to the total EPDS score, is a promising approach to identifying anxious women in need of further evaluation, treatment, or support.

scholarly journals Maternal Anxiety and Depression After a Premature Infant's Discharge From the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

2008 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 383-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk ◽  
Hugh F. Crean ◽  
Nancy Fischbeck Feinstein ◽  
Eileen Fairbanks
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Maternal Anxiety ◽  
Anxiety And Depression

Assessment of Family Needs in Neonatal Intensive Care Units

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia A. Mundy
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care Units ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care Units ◽  
Family Needs ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Mothers And Fathers ◽  
Family Centered

Background Limited research has been conducted to assess family needs in neonatal intensive care units. Health care providers often make assumptions about what families need, but these assumptions are unfounded and can lead to inappropriate conclusions. When assessed appropriately, family needs can be incorporated into individualized plans of care, enhancing family-centered care. Objective To assess the needs of parents in neonatal intensive care units, we asked the following 3 questions: What are the most and least important needs of families in a level III neonatal intensive care unit? Do parents’ needs differ at admission and discharge? Do the needs of mothers and fathers differ? Methods Parents were interviewed by using the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Family Needs Inventory. Participants rated statements as not important (1), slightly important (2), important (3), very important (4), or not applicable (5). Results Fifty-two (93%) of the 56 items were rated as important or very important, and parents rated assurance-type needs highest. Parents at admission rated support needs higher than parents at discharge rated those needs. Needs of mothers and fathers did not differ significantly. Conclusions Identifying the needs of parents in neonatal intensive care units can enhance nursing communication and allow nurses to incorporate parents’ needs into families’ plans of care. The family needs inventory can help identify those needs and allows the integration of individualized nursing care to fulfill those needs, providing a positive family-centered experience in the unit for patients and their families.

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