Mothers' experiences caring for infants with technology dependence transitioning to home from the NICU, including the COVID-19 pandemic
Date
2023
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Infants with technology dependence (ITD) are a growing vulnerable population discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) that experience increased healthcare utilization after discharge. Emergency department visits and readmissions soon after discharge indicate that families may be encountering obstacles during their transitions and could benefit from supportive nursing interventions. However, there is a dearth of research regarding the experiences of parents caring for ITD at home, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This three-manuscript dissertation investigates the experiences of mothers caring for ITD after NICU discharge, including the COVID-19 pandemic. ☐ Collectively, this dissertation describes the experiences of mothers caring for ITD after discharge, describes their information needs, and reveals how mothers interact in online groups to facilitate their transitions. The first manuscript includes an integrative review of parents’ experiences caring for ITD during the first 3 months after discharge. The second manuscript contains a qualitative analysis of eight in-depth interviews conducted with mothers of ITD prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The third manuscript contains a content analysis of over 17,000 posts from an online support group created for mothers caring for infants with nasogastric tubes at home throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. ☐ The results are influential and can be used to tailor current NICU discharge preparation to better support parents of ITD at home. The transition home from the NICU is overwhelming. Parents experience psychiatric symptoms, may have difficulty establishing routines or coordinating their infants’ care, and need support from healthcare professionals, family, and peers. Parents have expressed needing more information regarding how to travel with equipment, feed their infants, manage nasogastric tubes, and need a more comprehensive understanding of their infants’ diagnoses. Online group interactions were predominantly to share information and relay medical advice, suggesting that parents require better anticipatory guidance from healthcare professionals. ☐ Future research must further investigate the effects of COVID-19, incorporate mixed methods designs to explore transition experiences, and create and evaluate interventions to support ITD. Comprehensive transitional support can decrease unplanned healthcare utilization for ITD after NICU discharge and encourage confidence and competence in the provision of care for their parents.
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Keywords
Discharge, Infant, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Transition