Parents' experiences of psychotherapeutic support on the neonatal unit: A mixed methods systematic review to inform intervention development for a multicultural population.
Kirsty Jane, Dean Wood, Katie Gallagher and 3 others
PMID 39467007WHAT IT FOUND
Parents on neonatal units found support interventions helpful for reducing isolation but struggled with time away from their baby and cultural barriers.
Most studies failed to record ethnicity, so accessibility for diverse populations remains unknown. Providers need neonatal-specific training.
Key findings
01Only two of the included studies considered whether the intervention fit with the parents' value systems, such as cultural matching or appropriate language in materials.
02Parents reported that interventions requiring time away from the infant created a burden, forcing them to choose between self-care and being with their baby.
03Most studies did not report participant ethnicity or social support, preventing an assessment of acceptability across different cultural groups.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
Most studies did not report participant demographics like ethnicity or religion, so the review could not assess cultural accessibility. The evidence is heavily skewed towards mothers, with limited data on fathers' experiences. Only database searches were used, so some relevant studies may have been missed. Three authors are qualified music therapists, which may influence the interpretation of creative therapy interventions.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Three authors are qualified music therapists and acknowledged their interest in creative therapy approaches.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that current psychotherapeutic interventions are culturally accessible or effective for ethnic minority parents. The review found that most studies did not even record ethnicity, so there is no evidence that these services work equally well for diverse populations.