Needs of parents of hospitalised newborns in the neonatal clinic

The aim of the study. To analyze the needs of parents of hospitalized newborns in the Neonatal Clinic. Objectives: 1. To establish the most important needs of parents of hospitalized newborns in the Neonatal Clinic. 2. To analyze the meeting of needs of parents of hospitalized newborns in the Neonatal Clinic. 3. To identify the role of personnel in meeting the needs of parents of hospitalized newborns in the Neonatal Clinic. Methodology. The study was conducted in April – July of 2010 at the Neonatal Clinic of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Hospital (LSMUL). This study included 455 parents (365 at Newborns Care Unit (NCU) and 90 at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)). Data was collected using „NPQ – Needs of Parents Questionnaire“ developed by Gudrun Kristijandottir. Statistical data analysis was performed using SPSS 17.0 software program. Performed descriptive statistics, evaluated the signs of addiction, compared means nonparametric variables’ and equality of proportions, the connection strength. The differences were statistically significant at the significance level of p ≤ 0.05. Conclusions. 1. Analyzing importance of parental needs in Neonatal Clinic: trust, assurance, information, encouragement, guidance, support ensuring welfare of parents, support related to other family members, financial consultation, physical and other parental needs statistically significant differences were not found. Therefore, hypothesis, that informational needs are the most important was not confirmed. 1.1. Comparing parents’ answers of NICU and NCU was found that needs of financial consultation were assessed statistically significantly more important for parents of NICU. 1.2. Comparing results of mothers and fathers groups, it was found that fathers assessed needs of assurance subscale more important than mothers, and mothers as more important needs subscales of encouragement, physical and guidance. 2. Most of the parents of newborns hospitalized in the Neonatal Clinic stated, that needs of trust, assurance, information, encouragement, guidance, support ensuring welfare of parents, support related to other family members, financial consultation, physical and other parental needs were fulfilled. 2.1. Neither of parents indicated that three needs: To know that my child will get appropriate education and stimulation not to get behind in school, work or development; To feel that I am trusted for the care of my child also in the hospital; To be able to room in with my child were not met. 2.1 The majority of parents assessed the need to be able to trust that though I am not present my child will get the best available medical care as met. 2.3. The minority of parents assessed the need to be able to meet with parents with similar experience of an ill child as met. 3. Most of the parents of newborn hospitalized in the Neonatal Clinic stated that personnel should assist in meeting the needs of trust, assurance, information, encouragement, guidance, support ensuring welfare of parents, support related to other family members, financial consultation, physical and other parental needs. 3.1. The majority of parents stated that the need to be able to trust that though I am not present my child will get the best available nursing care should be met by staff. 3.2. Several statistically significant differences were found comparing assessments of fulfillment of parental needs in the NCU and NICU. There were all parents in the NICU (100 %) who stated that staff should meet needs: That I’m be informed about all known health prognoses of my child; That I receive written information about my child's health status to be able to review later; While all parents in the NCU (100 %) stated that the needs that I’m informed about all known health prognoses of my child; That I receive written information about my child's health status to be able to review later; to be able to consult nurses and doctors about how to explain the illness and/or tests to my child should be met by staff