Staff views on parental visiting of very low birthweight infants in neonatal intensive care units — Results of a staff enquiry across eleven countries of the European Community

Abstract

As part of a larger European study of parental visiting and involvement in the care of very low birth weight infants in neonatal intensive care units, the results of a self-completed anonymous enquiry of 1008 medical/nursing staff of 35 units in 11 European countries are presented. The study demonstrates a general agreement with parental visiting and involvement, with sometimes striking differences in views of staff of different countries, but with little or no differences between medical and nursing staff. Staff with more than seven years experience in neonatal care have a less positive attitude towards parent's presence in the unit. The same holds true for staff of units that have a restricted policy toward parents' visiting, i.e. units which do not have a 24-hours visiting policy for parents.

Parental Anxiety Following Discharge From Hospital of Their Very Low Birth Weight Infants*

“…This behavior might lead directly to reduced anxiety through contact with the child during hospitalization (Levy‐Schiff et al, 1990; Miller & Holditch‐Davis, 1992). It also may work indirectly by meeting staff expectations and thus earning positive reinforcement (de Leeuw et al, 1993).…”

“…Hospitals have begun to encourage parents to visit and be actively involved in the care of their VLBW infants in the NICU. Such involvement reflects an element of parents' cooperation with the staff (de Leeuw et al, 1993). For this study, parents' involvement in NICU care was rated by the NICU social worker based on a combination of medical and nursing records, direct observation, and on‐going contact with parents.…”

Visiting policies in neonatal intensive care units: staff and parents' views

“…E ditor —Findings from a study carried out in Italy as part of an international project on parental visiting1 may provide additional information in response to the points raised by Dr Harvey in his thoughtful commentary to our recent paper 2. Three third level neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) with an open (that is 24 hours a day) policy towards parental visiting were compared with two units restricting visiting to specified hours (“restricted” policy).…”

“…Almost a decade divides this study from the EURONIC survey,1 but the high proportion of NICUs still restricting parental visiting in some countries shows that these findings are still relevant. As Dr Harvey rightly points out, education of staff and parents is needed to stimulate change.…”

Pain management policies and practices in pediatric emergency care: a nationwide survey of Italian hospitals

“…Previous studies carried out in Italy in settings different from emergency care documented more restrictive policies towards parents. Repeated comparisons between several European countries showed that Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Italy were less likely to allow free parental visiting and participation in the care of the babies [26-29], and less babies’ holding and kangaroo care [30]. Similar restrictive policies were documented in a survey of Pediatric Intensive Care Units [31].…”