Embedded Files
the same time, however, parents increasingly reported practical challenges which they faced such as inflexible ward visiting schedules, staff shortages limiting nurses’ ability to help them care for their baby, or physicians’ opportunities to talk with them (T1:33% T2:48% T3:61%) highlighting that there are areas which still require attention to improve overall parental satisfaction. A small number of parents at each time point discussed concerns with other parents on the neonatal unit such as a lack of cleanliness or being too noisy, and their concerns about the impact of these upon their own infants and others (5, 1 and 1 parents respectively). When parents were asked whether there was anything that they would change for future parents coming into the neonatal unit, the majority of parents were unsure (T1:24% T2:52% T3:57%) however individuals at each time point did suggest actions such as more nurses to help mothers care for the babies, better information sharing about the babies condition and more equipment. Table 6 Parent interview analysis theme 2 and subthemes: participation in care Theme: (subtheme) T1 T2 T3 Participation in care: Perceived engagement “When I didn’t know how I massage the baby, they showed me. They care about me and my baby a lot” (P15) “The nurses taught me how to breastfeed. Thanks to the good care of nurses, my baby is growing stronger” (P4) “The nurses create all favorable conditions for me to take good care of my baby” (P18) Desired involvement “I want to learn from doctor and nurses to take good care of my baby” (P15) “It would be great if there is presence of the mom when a baby is being treated, because mom has the breastmilk for baby. If I can get involved in the baby’s treatment, I can somehow help reducing the nurses’ work and my baby not cry so much” (P1) “I want to do anything I can to make the baby get well soon” (P5) “I want to be actively involved in treatment for him” (P20) “The role of the parents is very important. I also need fully updated information and regularly talk with the nurses and doctors on the neonatal unit” (P2) “I wish to care for my baby myself, it sets my mind at rest” (P6) Perceptions of the nursing role “The nurses here are really doing a good job. They give me much information about the baby’s condition, about when to leave the hospital. At night they come to check the baby an remind me of something if I forget to do while sleeping” (P6) “The role of the nurse is very important. The nurse gave many advices and methods of taking good care of the baby” (P16) “The role of the nurse in the care of the baby is very important. The nurse gave many good advice for example the baby should be breastfed entirely, should not be bottle fed and when the baby could not poo 3 days after bottle-feeding, she reminded me frequently and helped the baby to stool. It made her sleep well” (P3) Gallagher et al. BMC Pediatrics (2017) 17:161 Page 7 of 11 Discussion The aim of this study was to explore changes in the perceptions and attitudes of nurses and parents towards their experiences in the neonatal unit following a neonatal nursing education intervention in a single neonatal unit in central Vietnam. The study has some limitations. As interview methodology remains a fairly new concept in Vietnamese culture, our approach encountered some cultural differences which meant we did not always achieve the depth of information in our responses that we had envisaged, despite piloting the interview schedules. Demographic information was also not collected from parents, making it difficult to explore whether their experience may have been impacted by previous experience or length of stay. It is also important to note parent participants interacted with nurses who had taken part in the study alongside with a number who had not. Our parental findings are therefore based on their overall experience on the neonatal unit. What we have shown, however, is that neonatal qualitative research in middle income countries can be achieved through international partnership. The results of our interviews highlight many interesting changes in the responses over three time points. For nurses, this included changes in their perception of the
Report abuse