Transitional care experiences of caregivers of preterm infants hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit: A qualitative descriptive study.
Ruo Han Ma, Qing Zhang, Zhi Hong Ni and 1 others
PMID 33951349WHAT IT FOUND
Caregivers of preterm infants described fear, guilt, exhaustion and low confidence during NICU and after discharge.
They wanted more humane visitation, practical care teaching, and ongoing nurse contact.
Key findings
01Caregivers reported uncertainty, fear and worry about developmental outcomes while their infants were in the NICU.
02Parents said restricted NICU visitation made them anxious and increased their longing to hold their infants.
03After discharge, caregivers described exhaustion, low confidence in daily care tasks, and a wish to learn from professionals.
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
The experiences came from 24 caregivers at one hospital NICU in Suzhou, China, so they may not match other settings, visitation rules or family supports. The study excluded infants with congenital malformation, hereditary disease or other serious complications, and caregivers with schizophrenia, so it may not describe families with the most complex medical or mental-health needs. Most participants were mothers (18) and only 6 were fathers, and the sample was purposive and convenience-based, so not all caregiver views are represented. Follow-up stopped at 1 month after discharge, so it does not show what happens over the longer term. It reports experiences and needs, not outcomes from any transitional care programme, so it cannot show whether nurse-led support reduces stress or improves infant care.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the themes as proof that a transitional nursing programme reduces stress or improves infant outcomes. This qualitative study describes caregivers' experiences and needs, not tested intervention effects.