"My Brigham Baby" Application: A Pilot Study Using Technology to Enhance Parent's Experience in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Am J Perinatol
; 2023 Jan 29.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36452968
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to describe the family psychosocial experience in a level-III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and to assess how it evolved after rollout of an educational smartphone application (App) called "My Brigham Baby." STUDYDESIGN:
We surveyed 25 NICU parents pre-App rollout (before coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19] pandemic) and 25 parents post-App rollout (during pandemic). Collected data included parental self-reported discharge readiness, symptoms of stress and anxiety, and parenting skill confidence. Survey scores were assessed as total or mean scores, and by category of severity.RESULTS:
Pre-and post-App parents had comparable demographics, and their infants had similar clinical characteristics during their NICU stay. Discharge readiness differed by group status (p = 0.02) and was characterized by a greater frequency in being "very ready" for discharge among the post-App rollout parent group compared with the pre-App group (56 vs. 20%, p = 0.027), and parenting confidence shifted toward more optimal scores post-App rollout. Parental stress and anxiety symptoms did not significantly differ between groups despite possible stress contagion from the COVID-19 pandemic.CONCLUSION:
This pilot study suggests that technology Apps are feasible interventions within NICU settings and may enhance parental experiences related to NICU hospitalization. KEY POINTS · Parents' experience increased psychological distress during the time their infant is cared for in the NICU, which has downstream consequences for the family unit.. · In our study, surveyed parents reported higher discharge readiness and parenting confidence shifted toward improvement after rollout of a family education and support smartphone application in a level-III NICU.. · This pilot study suggests that technology applications are feasible interventions that might enhance parental experiences during NICU hospitalization..
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article