OBJECTIVE: to describe parents' experiences of using videoconferencing (VC) when discharged early from a maternity unit. DESIGN: a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods was used to describe parents' experiences. Data were collected via questionnaires and interviews. SETTING: a pilot study involving a maternity department and new parents in their homes was conducted. Through VC, parents discharged early were able to maintain follow-up contact with the midwife via sound and picture at the department. PARTICIPANTS: nine couples/new parents participated. FINDINGS: the analysis revealed four categories of responses: 'feeling confident with the technology'; 'feeling confident of having control of their privacy'; 'feeling confident being face-to-face on the VC'; and 'feeling confident when worries and concerns were met and answers were received'. KEY CONCLUSIONS: using VC as a support in cases of early discharge after childbirth can facilitate a meeting that makes it possible for new parents to be guided by the midwife in their transition into parenthood. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: the findings of this study indicate that VC equipment may be helpful for parents discharged from hospital early after childbirth. The findings can also be used as a foundation for further development of the application of VC within maternal health care and in health care in rural areas.
OBJECTIVE: to describe parents' experiences of using videoconferencing (VC) when discharged early from a maternity unit. DESIGN: a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods was used to describe parents' experiences. Data were collected via questionnaires and interviews. SETTING: a pilot study involving a maternity department and new parents in their homes was conducted. Through VC, parents discharged early were able to maintain follow-up contact with the midwife via sound and picture at the department. PARTICIPANTS: nine couples/new parents participated. FINDINGS: the analysis revealed four categories of responses: 'feeling confident with the technology'; 'feeling confident of having control of their privacy'; 'feeling confident being face-to-face on the VC'; and 'feeling confident when worries and concerns were met and answers were received'. KEY CONCLUSIONS: using VC as a support in cases of early discharge after childbirth can facilitate a meeting that makes it possible for new parents to be guided by the midwife in their transition into parenthood. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: the findings of this study indicate that VC equipment may be helpful for parents discharged from hospital early after childbirth. The findings can also be used as a foundation for further development of the application of VC within maternal health care and in health care in rural areas.
Authors: Elisabeth Kurth; Katrin Krähenbühl; Manuela Eicher; Susanne Rodmann; Luzia Fölmli; Cornelia Conzelmann; Elisabeth Zemp Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2016-03-08 Impact factor: 2.655