Palliative Care in Neonatal Intensive Care, Effects on Parent Stress and Satisfaction: A Feasibility Study

Palliative Care in Neonatal Intensive Care, Effects on Parent Stress and Satisfaction: A Feasibility Study

Petteys AR; Goebel Joy R; Wallace JD; Singh-Carlson S

The American Journal Of Hospice & Palliative Care

2014

infant; neonatal intensive care unit

CONTEXT: Approximately 1 in 10 infants require neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization, which causes parental stress. Palliative care (PC) provides an opportunity to alleviate suffering and stress. OBJECTIVES: This study examines the effects of PC on NICU parent stress and satisfaction. METHODS: A prospective cohort design compares stress and satisfaction among families receiving or not receiving PC. RESULTS: No significant differences in stress scores were found (P = .27-1.00). Palliative care parents (100%) were more likely to report being "extremely satisfied" with care than usual-care parents (50%). CONCLUSION: This study supports the feasibility of evaluating NICU PC services. Infants referred for PC typically have higher morbidity/mortality; therefore, higher parental stress scores may be expected. Stress levels were similar in both cohorts, thus PC did not increase stress and may decrease PC parent stress.

2014-09

Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).

Journal Article

Backlog