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Parental presence on neonatal intensive care unit clinical bedside rounds: randomised trial and focus group discussion
  1. Mohamed E Abdel-Latif1,2,
  2. Danette Boswell1,
  3. Margaret Broom1,
  4. Judith Smith1,
  5. Deborah Davis3,4
  1. 1Department of Neonatology, Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, Canberra Hospital, Woden, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
  2. 2School of Clinical Medicine, Australian National University, Woden, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
  3. 3ACT Health Directorate, Woden, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
  4. 4Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Professor Mohamed E Abdel-Latif, Department of Neonatology, The Australian National University Medical School, Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, PO Box 11, Woden, ACT 2606, Australia; Abdel-Latif.Mohamed{at}act.gov.au

Abstract

Background There are limited data to inform the choice between parental presence at clinical bedside rounds (PPCBR) and non-PPCBR in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Methods We performed a single-centre, survey-based, crossed-over randomised trial involving parents of all infants who were admitted to NICU and anticipated to stay >11 days. Parents were randomly assigned using a computer-generated stratified block randomisation protocol to start with PPCBR or non-PPCBR and then crossed over to the other arm after a wash-out period. At the conclusion of each arm, parents completed the ‘NICU Parental Stressor Scale’ (a validated tool) and a satisfaction survey. After completion of the trial, we surveyed all healthcare providers who participated at least in one PPCBR rounding episode. We also offered all participating parents and healthcare providers the opportunity to partake in a focus group discussion regarding PPCBR.

Results A total of 72 parents were enrolled in this study, with 63 parents (87%) partially or fully completing the trial. Of the parents who completed the trial, 95% agreed that parents should be allowed to attend clinical bedside rounds. A total of 39 healthcare providers’ surveys were returned and 35 (90%) agreed that parents should be allowed to attend rounds. Nine healthcare providers and 8 parents participated in an interview or focus group, augmenting our understanding of the ways in which PPCBR was beneficial.

Conclusions Parents and healthcare providers strongly support PPCBR. NICUs should develop policies allowing PPCBR while mitigating the downsides and concerns of parents and healthcare providers such as decreased education opportunity and confidentiality concerns.

Trial registration number Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register number, ACTRN12612000506897.

This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2014-306724

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