PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - M Cuttini
AU  - M Rebagliato
AU  - P Bortoli
AU  - G Hansen
AU  - R de Leeuw
AU  - S Lenoir
AU  - J Persson
AU  - M Reid
AU  - M Schroell
AU  - U de Vonderweid
AU  - M Kaminski
AU  - H Lenard
AU  - M Orzalesi
AU  - R Saracci
TI  - Parental visiting, communication, and participation in ethical decisions: a comparison of neonatal unit policies in Europe
AID  - 10.1136/fn.81.2.F84
DP  - 1999 Sep 01
TA  - Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition
PG  - F84--F91
VI  - 81
IP  - 2
4099  - http://fn.bmj.com/content/81/2/F84.short
4100  - http://fn.bmj.com/content/81/2/F84.full
SO  - Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed1999 Sep 01; 81
AB  - AIM To compare neonatal intensive care unit policies towards parents’ visiting, information, and participation in ethical decisions across eight European countries. METHODS One hundred and twenty three units, selected by random or exhaustive sampling, were recruited, with an overall response rate of 87%. RESULTS Proportions of units allowing unrestricted parental visiting ranged from 11% in Spain to 100% in Great Britain, Luxembourg and Sweden, and those explicitly involving parents in decisions from 19% in Italy to 89% in Great Britain. Policies concerning information also varied. CONCLUSIONS These variations cannot be explained by differences in unit characteristics, such as level, size, and availability of resources. As the importance of parental participation in the care of their babies is increasingly being recognised, these findings have implications for neonatal intensive care organisation and policy.