8.5.3 A systematic review to identify the most effective ways to support, inform, and communicate with a range of different parents who have had a premature baby: implications for neonatal nurses and midwives (334)

Jo Brett, Research Fellow, School of Health and Social Studies, University of Warwick, Oxford, United Kingdom Co authors: Sophie Staniszewska & Mary Newburn, Nicola Jones, Claire Pimm jo.brett@rcn.org.uk

Abstract:

Background:

While medical advances mean that very young babies have a good chance of surviving when they are born, the enormous impact of this experience on the parents cannot be underestimated(1). The study is a collaboration between researchers, nurses, parents and charities to explore the experiences of parents and develop services to facilitate the provision of information, communication and support to parents(2,3).

Aim:

To undertake a systematic literature review to identify effective interventions for communicating with, supporting and providing information for parents of pre-term babies.

Methods:

Systematic searches were undertaken from January 1980 to June 2006 in the relevant electronic databases, grey literature was sought, and frequently used neonatal journals were hand-searched. A total of 434 papers were identified, and a non-quantitative synthesis was conducted.

Results:

A range of interventions have been found to be effective, although the quality of the evidence is variable. These interventions included relevant and timely information, for example about the neonatal unit, and provision of information binders for parents to collate good quality information specific to their infant. Discussion around infant progress charts with health professionals, using video phone to link parents to the neonatal clinic, and using taped consultations between doctors and parents were interventions identified that may improve communication with parents. Key support interventions identified were use of family centred care programmes teaching parents how to care for their baby, support groups, detailed discharge programme to help parents cope after returning home, and health visitor support at the neonatal clinic and at home.

Conclusion:

Overall, the literature highlights the key role of information, communication and support in the parent’s experience of having a pre-term baby. The results suggest neonatal nurses need to develop their practice in a number of key areas which will be outlined in the presentation. This presentation will report key findings of the systematic review.

Biography:

Have been working for the RCN for 4 years, first developing guidelines for practice, and currently working on the POPPY study, assessing parents experiences of having a premature baby and assessing interventions to support these parents. Previoulsy worked for the Department of Primary Health at University of Oxford, conducting studies assessing the adverse psychological consequences and experiences of the women attending the National Breast Screening service in the UK, and of men attending for PSA testing for prostate cancer. MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care, University of Oxford.