Exploring Parent Experience of Communication About Therapeutic Hypothermia in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Alexa K Craig, Roslyn Gerwin, Janelle Bainter and 2 others
PMID 29595551WHAT IT FOUND
Parents of infants treated with therapeutic hypothermia wanted clear, consistent, timely communication and continuity in nursing care.
Inconsistent touch and visitor rules, jargon and delayed information were distressing; parents asked for written treatment explanations.
Key findings
01The main themes were communication, managing expectations, emotional experiences and supportive or healing experiences; the communication theme included transparency, consistency and delivery style.
02Parents valued transparent communication when providers explained devices and gave frequent bedside updates, but some were confused about the cooling and rewarming timeline, the target temperature and why cooling was used.
03Consistent communication was most positive when the same nursing team cared for the baby for several days; parents reported confusion and distress when rules about touching the infant and visitor numbers changed.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was done at a single center in a small rural state, so the experiences may not transfer to other hospitals or states. Parents were interviewed from memory, and the infants were between two months and two years old at the time of interview. The sample included only English-speaking families whose infants survived therapeutic hypothermia. Group interviews may have let more vocal parents shape the discussion, and other parents may not have shared differing views. Trustworthiness was not formally assessed through member checking or triangulation.
Declared interests
The authors declared no relevant conflicts of interest. The supplied text does not state who funded the study.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the suggested written brochures, continuity of nursing teams and consistent touch or visitor policies as tested interventions that were shown to improve care. The study reports parents' experiences and themes, not outcomes after any communication change.