Background/Objectives: A neonatal intensive care units (NICU) admission of a premature infant is lifesaving; however, it can also be emotionally devastating experiences for parents. Family-centered care (FCC) interventions are designed to support parents and infants in the NICUs by integrating families into care delivery through partnerships with healthcare professionals. Heterogeneity in outcome reporting across FCC studies limits comparability. Developing a core outcome set (COS) for FCC is essential to address this gap. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the views of former neonatal patients, parents, and healthcare professionals who have experiences with FCC in neonatal settings and elucidate outcomes that are important to them. Methods: This study followed the Core Outcome Measures Effectiveness Trial Handbook, which suggests involving stakeholders in identifying outcomes to reflect what is important to them rather than to researchers. Nine focus group discussions were conducted with 27 international key stakeholders from multiple countries (former neonatal patient n = 1; parents n = 8; healthcare professionals n = 18), reflecting FCC experiences across different neonatal settings. Data were analyzed using a modified framework analysis. Findings: Five outcome domains were identified including 42 distinct outcomes: (1) Emotional functioning/wellbeing of parents, infants, and healthcare professionals, reflecting emotional responses to a NICU admission of an infant; (2) Role functioning of parents, healthcare professionals, and others, highlighting that FCC strengthens their roles; (3) Delivery of care, highlighting the role of staff attitudes and organizational factors in supporting FCC; (4) Physiological health, reflecting infant physical health; (5) Hospital environment and resource use, reflecting healthcare utilization outcomes. Conclusions: Participants’ experiences provide meaningful insights into outcomes that should be evaluated in neonatal research and practice. These findings will inform the development of a COS for FCC in neonatal settings.
ContributorsCansel Kocakabak, Agnes van den Hoogen, Jos M. Latour, and on behalf of the COUSIN Study Group
Disease Category: Neonatal care
Disease Name: Neonatal care
Age Range: 18 - 100
Sex: Either
Nature of Intervention: Any
- Clinical experts
- Consumers (caregivers)
- Consumers (patients)
- Patient perspectives
- Advisory Groups
- Focus group(s)
The wider core outcome set (COS) project involves GFCNI (Global Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants), as our patient and public advisory group. A parent representative from GFCNI, who have knowledge of FCC and experience in parent advocacy, contributed to the development of the study protocol, documents such as consent form and participant information sheets, and advised on the refinement of the focus group discussion guide prior to data collection to ensure relevance and clarity.