Parent Psychological Distress in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Within the Context of the Social Ecological Model: A Scoping Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 495-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristy Loewenstein

BACKGROUND: Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) parents are at risk for psychological distress and impaired mental health, and statistics related to parent psychological distress vary. OBJECTIVE: To determine the scope of literature regarding the mental health and psychosocial well-being of parents in the NICU. DESIGN: A scoping review within the Arksey and O’Malley framework and the SEM was undertaken to answer, “What factors contribute to parent’s mental health in the NICU?” A systematic review of the literature was performed using the PRISMA methodology. RESULTS: Common socioeconomic factors and infant and parent characteristics may place parents at a greater risk for developing distress. History of mental illness, family cohesion, birth trauma, altered parenting role, gestational age, birth weight, and severity of prematurity/illness emerged as themes. CONCLUSION: Further research is required to provide a standard for the screening and assessment of parents’ mental health and psychosocial well-being during a NICU hospitalization. The experiences of nonbirth parents in the NICU should be explored to examine the effects of the hospitalization on all types of parents.

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-242
Author(s):  
Rebecca Ann Versaci

When an infant is hospitalized on the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) it can have a profound influence on the psychosocial well-being of the infant and their older sibling(s). This article presents a case vignette of the use of the Six-Part Storymaking Method with the sibling of an infant hospitalized on the NICU. The article reviews the therapeutic aims and benefits of the intervention, including: supporting emotional expression, providing opportunity for the sibling to be deeply witnessed by caregivers, therapist and hospital staff, empowering the sibling to inhabit the big sibling role and fostering insight into the sibling’s thoughts, feelings and behaviours as related to their infant’s hospitalization. Considerations for facilitation and assessment are also discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 660-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónica Vizcarrondo-Oppenheimer ◽  
Cynthia García-Coll ◽  
José Martínez-González ◽  
Zayhara Reyes-Bou ◽  
Lourdes García-Fragoso ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 104 (7) ◽  
pp. e306-e313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle M. Greene ◽  
Beverly Rossman ◽  
Kousiki Patra ◽  
Amanda Kratovil ◽  
Samah Khan ◽  
...  

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


2013 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 110-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cori Zarem ◽  
Tara Crapnell ◽  
Lisa Tiltges ◽  
Laura Madlinger ◽  
Lauren Reynolds ◽  
...  

Purpose: Determine perceptions about positioning for preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Design: Twenty-item survey.Sample: Neonatal nurses (n = 68) and speech, physical, and occupational therapists (n = 8).Main outcome variable: Perceptions about positioning were obtained, and differences in perceptions between nurses and therapists were explored.Results: Ninety-nine percent of respondents agreed that positioning is important for the well-being of the infant. Sixty-two percent of nurses and 86 percent of therapists identified the Dandle ROO as the ideal method of neonatal positioning. Forty-four percent of nurses and 57 percent of therapists reported that the Dandle ROO is the easiest positioning method to use in the NICU. Some perceptions differed: Therapists were more likely to report that the SleepSack does not hold the infant in good alignment. Nurses were more likely to report that the infant does not sleep well in traditional positioning.


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