Immacolata Dall'Oglio1, Rachele Mascolo2, Emanuela Tiozzo2, Anna Portanova3, Martina Fiori4, Orsola Gawronski5, Andrea Dotta3, Simone Piga6, Caterina Offidani7, Rosaria Alvaro8, Gennaro Rocco9, Jos M Latour10. 1. Professional Development for Nurses and Allied Health Professionals, Continuing Education and Research Service, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, P.za Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy; Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata, University of Rome, Via Montpellier, 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: immacolata.dalloglio@opbg.net. 2. Professional Development for Nurses and Allied Health Professionals, Continuing Education and Research Service, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, P.za Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy. 3. Department of Medical and Surgical Neonatology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, P.za Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy. 4. Professional Development for Nurses and Allied Health Professionals, Continuing Education and Research Service, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, P.za Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy; School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health and Human Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom. 5. Professional Development for Nurses and Allied Health Professionals, Continuing Education and Research Service, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, P.za Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy; Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata, University of Rome, Via Montpellier, 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. 6. Unit of Epidemiology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, P.za Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy. 7. Unit of Legal Medicine, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, P.za Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy. 8. Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata, University of Rome, Via Montpellier, 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. 9. Centre of Excellence for Nursing Scholarship, IPASVI Nursing College of Rome, Viale Giulio Cesare, 78, 00192 Rome, Italy. 10. School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health and Human Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To explore family-centred care practices in Italian neonatal intensive care units and describe areas for improvement. METHODS: A cross-sectional, multicentre, survey was conducted using the Italian language version of "Advancing family-centred new-born intensive care: a self-assessment inventory". The instrument is divided into 10 sections rating the status of family-centred care (1 = not at all, 5 = very well) and ranking the perceived priority for change/improvement (1 = low, 3 = high). A representative group of staff and parent for each unit were invited to complete the survey. Data was collected between January and June 2015. Correlations among unit characteristics and sections within the survey were explored. SETTINGS: All Italian neonatal intensive care units (n = 105) were invited. RESULTS: Forty-six (43.8%) units returned the survey. The "Leadership" section scored highest in status of family-centred care (mean = 3.45; SD 0.78) and scored highest in priority for change (mean = 2.44; SD 0.49). Section "Families as Advisors and Leaders" scored lowest both in status (mean = 1.66; SD 0.67) and in priority for change (mean = 2.09; SD 0.59). The number of discharged infants was positively correlated with many sections in priority for change (r 0.402-0.421; p < .01). CONCLUSION: This study showed a variability in the organisation of family-centred care practices in Italian neonatal intensive care units and the need to involve parents as partners in the care team. Although family-centred care is considered important by Italian neonatology healthcare professionals, much remains to be done to improve family-centred care practices in neonatal intensive care units in Italy.
OBJECTIVES: To explore family-centred care practices in Italian neonatal intensive care units and describe areas for improvement. METHODS: A cross-sectional, multicentre, survey was conducted using the Italian language version of "Advancing family-centred new-born intensive care: a self-assessment inventory". The instrument is divided into 10 sections rating the status of family-centred care (1 = not at all, 5 = very well) and ranking the perceived priority for change/improvement (1 = low, 3 = high). A representative group of staff and parent for each unit were invited to complete the survey. Data was collected between January and June 2015. Correlations among unit characteristics and sections within the survey were explored. SETTINGS: All Italian neonatal intensive care units (n = 105) were invited. RESULTS: Forty-six (43.8%) units returned the survey. The "Leadership" section scored highest in status of family-centred care (mean = 3.45; SD 0.78) and scored highest in priority for change (mean = 2.44; SD 0.49). Section "Families as Advisors and Leaders" scored lowest both in status (mean = 1.66; SD 0.67) and in priority for change (mean = 2.09; SD 0.59). The number of discharged infants was positively correlated with many sections in priority for change (r 0.402-0.421; p < .01). CONCLUSION: This study showed a variability in the organisation of family-centred care practices in Italian neonatal intensive care units and the need to involve parents as partners in the care team. Although family-centred care is considered important by Italian neonatology healthcare professionals, much remains to be done to improve family-centred care practices in neonatal intensive care units in Italy.