Factors That Influence Neonatal Nursing Perceptions of Family-Centered Care and Developmental Care Practices

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to analyze the association of developmental care education and training and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) developmental team structure in promoting neonatal nursing perception and beliefs of key characteristics of family-centered care (FCC), developmental care, and kangaroo mother care (KMC). A 24-item Likert scale survey of specific perceptions and beliefs of aspects of FCC, KMC, and developmental care characteristics was conducted with 59 neonatal nurses from three distinct level III NICUs in New York City where nurses had undergone recent reeducation and developmental team configuration. There was no difference in nursing beliefs of technical developmental care approaches to infant care at all three sites. Neonatal nurses who were supported by an on-site infant developmental specialist were more likely to have strong beliefs related to the affective areas of FCC and the technique of KMC. FCC and clinical care approaches that include a high level of parental participation such as KMC in the NICU are likely to be facilitated by a comprehensive approach of continuing training as well as a team structure that includes dedicated, specially trained infant developmental specialist personnel.

KEYWORDS

Developmental care - family-centered care - nurse - kangaroo mother care - neonatal intensive care unit - infant developmental specialist

REFERENCES

• 1 Aita M, Snider L. The art of developmental care in the NICU: a concept analysis.  J Adv Nurs. 2003;  41 223-232
• 2 Harrison H. The principles for family-centered neonatal care.  Pediatrics. 1993;  92 643-650
• 3 Milette I H, Richard L, Martel M J. Evaluation of a developmental care training programme for neonatal nurses.  J Child Health Care. 2005;  9 94-109
• 4 Hendricks-Muñoz K D, Prendergast C C. Barriers to provision of developmental care in the neonatal intensive care unit: neonatal nursing perceptions.  Am J Perinatol. 2007;  24 71-77
• 5 Bondurant P G, Brinkman K S. Developmentally supportive care in the newborn intensive care unit: early intervention in the community.  Nurs Clin North Am. 2003;  38 253-269
• 6 Johnson A N. Engaging fathers in the NICU: taking down the barriers to the baby.  J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2008;  22 302-306
• 7 Aucott S, Donohue P K, Atkins E, Allen M C. Neurodevelopmental care in the NICU.  Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev. 2002;  8 298-308
• 8 Wielenga J M, Smit B J, Unk L K. How satisfied are parents supported by nurses with the NIDCAP model of care for their preterm infant?.  J Nurs Care Qual. 2006;  21 41-48
• 9 Moore E R, Anderson G C, Bergman N. Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants.  Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;  (3, Issue 3) CD003519 , 10.1002/14651858.CD003519.pub2
• 10 Ludington-Hoe S M, Swinth J Y. Developmental aspects of kangaroo care.  J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 1996;  25 691-703
• 11 Griffin T. Family-centered care in the NICU.  J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2006;  20 98-102
• 12 Ceccato N E, Ferris L E, Manuel D, Grimshaw J M. Adopting health behavior change theory throughout the clinical practice guideline process.  J Contin Educ Health Prof. 2007;  27 201-207
• 13 Fishbein M, Ajzen I. Theory-based behavior change interventions: comments on Hobbis and Sutton.  J Health Psychol. 2005;  10 27-31 discussion 37-43
• 14 Perkins M B, Jensen P S, Jaccard J et al.. Applying theory-driven approaches to understanding and modifying clinicians' behavior: what do we know?.  Psychiatr Serv. 2007;  58 342-348
• 15 Davis D A, Taylor-Vaisey A. Translating guidelines into practice. A systematic review of theoretic concepts, practical experience and research evidence in the adoption of clinical practice guidelines.  CMAJ. 1997;  157 408-416
• 16 Ring N, Malcolm C, Coull A, Murphy-Black T, Watterson A. Nursing best practice statements: an exploration of their implementation in clinical practice.  J Clin Nurs. 2005;  14 1048-1058
• 17 Engler A J, Cusson R M, Brockett R T et al.. Neonatal staff and advanced practice nurses' perceptions of bereavement/end-of-life care of families of critically ill and/or dying infants.  Am J Crit Care. 2004;  13 489-498