A Survey of Neonatal Clinicians' Use, Needs, and Preferences for Kangaroo Care Devices

Abstract

Background: Decades of research supports the benefits of kangaroo care (KC) for the parent and newborn. Supportive KC devices may be an important tool clinicians can use to assist parents with KC. In recent years, there has been a rise in the availability of KC devices. However, the use, needs, and preferences for these supportive devices by neonatal clinicians have not been documented. Purpose: To survey clinicians' use, needs, and preferences of KC supportive devices, and examine whether differences exist based on clinician and organizational characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional, online survey was sent through neonatal organization Web sites, conferences, and social media. Results: Many clinicians (n = 68, 43%; N = 158) facilitated KC with a supportive device, with 81% of devices provided by the clinician's employer. The most important “Must Have” feature of a KC device was “Safety: Reduces patient falls if caregiver sleeps or needs to use hands” (84% of respondents) followed by washability (82%), and “immediate, effective access to the baby” (78%). Clinicians' responses did not differ based on hospital setting, type of unit, KC experience, or experience using a KC device. Implications for Practice: To support safe use of KC devices in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) clinical care, a device must hold the proper KC position consistently, allow immediate access to the infant, and hold the infant in place without the parent's hands to prevent falls. Training is needed to ensure safe device use. Implications for Research: Future research should evaluate the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of these devices.

Práticas profissionais no primeiro encontro dos pais com recém-nascido na unidade neonatal [Professional practices in the first meeting between parents and newborns in the neonatal unit] [Prácticas profesionales en el primer encuentro entre padres y recién nacido en la unidad neonatal]

“…Estudos comprovaram que a presença dos pais durante a hospitalização do bebê e a participação nos cuidados favorecem a melhora do quadro de saúde, diminuem o estresse e fortalecem as relações 1,10,27,30,31 . As famílias que vivenciaram o MC relataram pontos positivos, sobretudo na criação de vínculo, no desenvolvimento da autonomia e na sensação de maior pertencimento que o método promove 11,32 .…”

“…Conforme a aproximação com o bebê acontece, os pais vão progressivamente se habituando às rotinas 18 e sendo encorajados quanto aos cuidados diários com o bebê. Cerca de 72,4% dos participantes falam das rotinas hospitalares, com destaque para o horário das dietas e troca de fralda, mas é com o tempo que os pais desenvolvem habilidades e se sentem seguros para realizá-las 1,32 .…”

The Safety of Body Wraps on Skin-to-Skin Care in the Neonatal Population

“…19 A SSC supportive device, referred to as a body wrap, is a garment or fabric used to aid parents when holding their infant in SSC; it ensures prolonged, safe, and comfortable sessions. 20 Weber and Jackson 21 surveyed clinicians' use, needs, and preferences for SSC supportive devices. With regard to safety, these researchers found that 84% of survey respondents reported that SSC body wraps must reduce infant falls if parents fall sleep or need to use their hands; 78% of survey respondents reported the need for immediate access to their infant.…”

A clinical‐academic partnership to develop a family management intervention for parents of preterm infants

“…Most (Fish et al, 2020(Fish et al, , 2021, virtual family-based rounds (Dykstra, 2020), use of kangaroo care devices (Weber & Jackson, 2021), development and testing of parent orientation videos, and completion of a national survey describing family-centred practices in the United States Weber et al, 2019).…”

“…Our partnership has led to the creation of many new, mutually beneficial opportunities for ongoing collaboration, including in education, research and QI (Dykstra, 2020;Fish et al, 2020Fish et al, , 2021Latif, 2021;Rivera et al, 2021;Weber & Jackson, 2021;Weber et al, 2019). Our work supports previous researchers' findings on the characteristics, processes and operational and interpersonal factors that make partnerships successful in achieving their deliverables (Drahota et al, 2016;Hoekstra et al, 2020;Huang et al, 2018;MacPhee, 2009).…”