scholarly journals Evaluation of Mobile Apps Targeted to Parents of Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Systematic App Review (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianna Richardson ◽  
Justine Dol ◽  
Kallen Rutledge ◽  
Joelle Monaghan ◽  
Adele Orovec ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Parents of preterm infants increasingly use their mobile phone to search for health information. In a recent review, websites targeted toward parents with infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were found to have poor to moderate quality educational material; however, there is a dearth of literature regarding mobile apps for NICU parents. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to identify and evaluate apps targeting parents of infants in the NICU for quality of information, usability, and credibility. METHODS We systematically searched the Apple App Store and Google Play using 49 key terms (eg, “preterm infant”) from July 26 to August 18, 2017. English apps targeting NICU parents that cost less than $20 were included. Apps for health care professionals, e-books/magazines, or nonrelevant results were excluded. In total, 3 tools were used for evaluation: Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) to measure quality; Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Audiovisual Materials (PEMAT-AV) to measure the app’s content usability; and Trust it or Trash It to measure credibility. RESULTS The initial search yielded 6579 apps, with 49 apps eligible after title and description screening. In total, 27 apps met the eligibility criteria with 9 apps available in both app stores; of those, the app with the most recent update date was chosen to be included in the analysis. Thus, 18 unique apps were included for final analysis. Using MARS, 7 apps (7/18, 39%) received a good score on overall quality (ie, 4.0 out of 5.0), with none receiving an excellent score. In addition, 8 apps (8/18, 44%) received a PEMAT-AV score between 51% and 75% on the understandability subscale, and 8 apps (8/18, 44%) scored between 76% and 100% on the actionability subscale. Trust It or Trash It deemed 13 apps (13/18, 72%) as trash for reasons including no identification of sources or lack of current information, with only 5 (5/18, 28%) deemed trustworthy. Reviewer’s expert evaluation found 16 apps contained content that matched information provided by multiple sources; however, most apps did not meet other objective measurement items to support credibility. When comparing the MARS overall quality and subjective quality scores with trustworthiness of apps, there was no statistically significant difference. A statistically significant difference was found between the 2 MARS quality scores, indicating that, on average, apps were ranked significantly lower on subjective quality compared with overall quality measures. CONCLUSIONS This evaluation revealed that of the available apps targeting NICU parents, less than half should be considered as acceptable educational material. Over two-thirds of the apps were found to have issues regarding credibility and just over a quarter were considered good quality. The apps currently available for NICU parents are lacking and of concern in terms of quality and credibility.

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 835-838
Author(s):  
Fred Schwab ◽  
Brenda Tolbert ◽  
Stephen Bagnato ◽  
M. Jeffrey Maisels

The effect of sibling visiting in a neonatal intensive care unit was studied. Sixteen siblings of 13 infants were randomly assigned to a visiting or nonvisiting group. Behavioral patterns were measured by questionnaires administered to the parents and by direct observation and interviews with the children. There were no significant changes in the behavior of the children following the birth of their sibling, and there was no significant difference between the behavior scores of the two groups 1 week after the experimental (or control) intervention. The visiting children did not show signs of fear or anxiety during the visit. These data suggest that sibling visiting to a neonatal intensive care unit is not likely to be harmful and might be beneficial to the siblings and their families.


Author(s):  
Seyedeh Najmeh Hosseini ◽  
Arash Ghodousi ◽  
Narges Sadeghi ◽  
Somayeh Abbasi

Background: The experience of having neonates in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a psychological crisis. It might cause many emotional problems for parents. Entire parental support is among the duties of the healthcare team. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the nursing support received by the mothers with Newborn Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and the mothers of other neonates admitted to the NICU. Methods: The present cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study was conducted in the selected hospitals in Kerman Province, Iran. In total, 62 mothers with NAS and 61 non-addicted mothers with neonates admitted to the NICU were selected through convenience sampling method. The inclusion criteria were neonates under the care of parents, neonate admitted to the NICU for at least 24 hours, opiate dependence in the case group mothers, and no substance dependence in the control group mothers. The amount of nursing support for mothers having neonates with NAS was compared with that of the control mothers. The study groups were homogenized in terms of the study variables (neonate age, gender, and the duration of hospitalization). The required data were collected by the Nurse-Parent Support Tool (NPST) and analyzed in SPSS. Results: The study results revealed that among the neonates of 123 mothers, 75(60.97%) were boys, and 58(39.02%) were girls. The majority of neonates in both groups were breastfed. The mean±SD age of the mothers in the case and control group were 31.93±7.25 and 28.99±4.36 years, respectively. The nursing support level was desirable in both groups, and no significant difference was found in this regard (P>0.05). Furthermore, the level of nursing support in emotional, information-communication, self-esteem, and quality caregiving support dimensions was desirable in both groups. Conclusion: The obtained results revealed that nurses’ support was desirable in both groups. The prevalence of maternal addiction and the impact of this social harm on neonates who were admitted are essential. Furthermore, families having neonates with NAS need more support from the healthcare staff and nurses, in comparison with healthy parents; thus, the importance of this issue should be addressed in training and briefing courses for nurses.


Author(s):  
Katheleen Hawes ◽  
Justin Goldstein ◽  
Sharon Vessella ◽  
Richard Tucker ◽  
Beatrice E. Lechner

Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate formal bereavement debriefing sessions after infant death on neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) staff. Study Design Prospective mixed methods study. Pre- and postbereavement debriefing intervention surveys were sent to clinical staff. Evaluation surveys were distributed to participants after each debriefing session. Notes on themes were taken during each session. Results More staff attended sessions (p < 0.0001) and attended more sessions (p < 0.0001) during the postdebriefing intervention epoch compared with the predebriefing epoch. Stress levels associated with the death of a patient whose family the care provider have developed a close relationship with decreased (p = 0.0123). An increased number of debriefing session participants was associated with infant age at the time of death (p = 0.03). Themes were (1) family and provider relationships, (2) evaluation of the death, (3) team cohesion, (4) caring for one another, and (5) emotional impact. Conclusion Bereavement debriefings for NICU staff reduced the stress of caring for dying infants and contributed to staff well-being. Key Points


2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 46-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Milette ◽  
Marie-Josée Martel ◽  
Margarida Ribeiro da Silva ◽  
Mary Coughlin McNeil

The use of age-appropriate care as an organized framework for care delivery in the neonatal intensive care unit is founded on the work of Heidelise Als, PhD, and her synactive theory of development. This theoretical construct has recently been advanced by the work of Gibbins and colleagues with the “universe of developmental care” conceptual model and developmental care core measures which were endorsed by the National Association of Neonatal Nurses in their age-appropriate care of premature infant guidelines as best-practice standards for the provision of high-quality care in the neonatal intensive care unit. These guidelines were recently revised and expanded. In alignment with the Joint Commission’s requirement for health-care professionals to provide age-specific care across the lifespan, the core measures for developmental care suggest the necessary competencies for those caring for the premature and critically ill hospitalized infant. Further supported by the Primer Standards of Accreditation and Health Canada, the institutional implementation of theses core measures requires a strong framework for institutional operationalization, presented in these guidelines. Part A of this article will present the background and rationale behind the present guidelines and their condensed table of recommendations.


2003 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margo Charchuk ◽  
Christy Simpson

When a newborn is admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit the parents may experience a variety of emotions, including a heightened sense of loyalty to their child. While health care providers are working to meet the medical needs of their patients, parents need to find ways to fulfill this sense of loyalty and to express it via hope. Through sharing the experience of having a child in the NICU, I examine hope and loyalty as critical features of parents’ NICU experience, explaining why these emotions need to be acknowledged and encouraged by health care professionals.


2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 679-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naomi Jean-Baptiste ◽  
Daniel K. Benjamin ◽  
Michael Cohen-Wolkowiez ◽  
Vance G. Fowler ◽  
Matthew Laughon ◽  
...  

Background.Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are the most commonly isolated pathogens in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). CoNS infections are associated with increased morbidity, including neurodevelopmental impairment.Objective.To describe the epidemiology of CoNS infections in the NICU. To determine mortality among infants with definite, probable, or possible CoNS infections.Methods.We performed a retrospective cohort study of all blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid cultures from samples obtained from infants aged <121 postnatal days.Setting.A total of 248 NICUs managed by the Pediatrix Medical Group from 1997 to 2009.Results.We identified 16,629 infants with 17,624 episodes of CoNS infection: 1,734 (10%) definite, 3,093 (17%) probable, and 12,797 (73%) possible infections. Infants with a lower gestational age and birth weight had a higher incidence of CoNS infection. When controlling for gestational age, birth weight, and 5-minute Apgar score, we found that infants with definite, probable, or possible CoNS infection had lower mortality (odds ratio [OR], 0.74 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 0.61, 0.89], 0.68 [95% CI, 0.59, 0.79], and 0.69 [95% CI, 0.63, 0.76], respectively) compared with infants who had negative culture results (P<.001). No significant difference in overall mortality was found in infants who had definite CoNS infection compared with those who had probable or possible CoNS infection (OR, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.75, 1.16] and 0.85 [95% CI,0.70,1.03], respectively).Conclusions.CoNS infection was strongly related to lower gestational age and birth weight. Infants with clinical sepsis and culture-positive CoNS infection had lower mortality rates than infants with clinical sepsis and negative blood culture results. No difference in mortality between infants with a diagnosis of definite, probable, or possible CoNS infection was observed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Ettenberger

Music therapy during end-of-life care has become an increasingly applied therapeutic option for a broad range of populations in a variety of settings. While music therapy in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a well-established field of clinical research and practice, there is a lack of literature that specifically addresses issues related to end-of-life care in this setting. In this article, the author aims to reflect upon some of the potentials, difficulties, and challenges when accompanying babies and their families during their last stages of life in the NICU. Three case vignettes will be described in order to exemplify aspects related to rituality, culture, memory making, and family-centred care. It is hoped that these case studies prompt the exchange of ideas and experiences among music therapists and other health care professionals concerned with end-of-life care in the NICU.


10.2196/11620 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. e11620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianna Richardson ◽  
Justine Dol ◽  
Kallen Rutledge ◽  
Joelle Monaghan ◽  
Adele Orovec ◽  
...  

Circulation ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 138 (Suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaashif A Ahmad ◽  
Christina N Stine ◽  
Jaclyn M LeVan ◽  
Katy L Kohlleppel ◽  
Steven G Velasquez ◽  
...  

Introduction: There is a paucity of data regarding variables that impact the outcome in patients who require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The impact of initial need or replacement of an existing advanced airway (AA) has not been described in this population. The 2016 Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) places emphasis on AA placement prior to initiating compressions in the delivery room setting. We hypothesized that providers would similarly emphasize airway placement for NICU CPR. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients requiring CPR with chest compressions from 2012 to 2017 across 10 NICUs in San Antonio, Texas. We identified cases by clinician selection of a CPR code and by a review of all patients who died prior to NICU discharge. Results: We review a total of 211 NICU CPR events, 210 of which had complete data regarding the AA. An AA was present at the onset of CPR for 179 (85.2%) of CPR events and an existing airway replaced during CPR for 31 (14.7%) CPR events. All patients without an AA present at onset of CPR had an airway immediately placed. The median time to insertion of AA was 1 minute (IQR 1, 5 minutes). In comparing patients who had an AA present at CPR onset versus absent AA, there was no significant difference in rate of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC, 63.7% vs 64.5%, p=0.92) or time to ROSC (10.2 vs 12.7 min, p=.66). The median time for replacement of an AA during CPR was 1 minute (IQR 1, 4 minutes). Those with a time to replace the AA of >= 5 minutes had a similar ROSC rate compared to those who had AA replacement in < 5 minutes (75% vs 73.7%, p=.96). The decision to replace an AA during CPR was associated with a non-significant increase in rate of ROSC (74.2% vs 62%, p=0.19) and no significant difference in time to ROSC (11.5 min vs. 10.4 min, p=0.65). Conclusions: The achievement of ROSC or time to ROSC are not impacted by the need to place an initial AA at the onset of CPR or the need to replace the AA during CPR in the NICU. This may be due to the rapid initial placement and replacement of the AA observed in NICU CPR events. These data indicate that NICU CPR providers emphasize rapid AA placement similar to NRP guidelines.


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