Title : Quality improvement initiative to improve the family integration in neonatal intensive care unit, tertiary care hospital India
Abstract:
Introduction: Family integrated care (FIC) focuses on involving the parents in caring for their preterm hospitalised neonates after structured teaching and training. In the baseline survey of family integration, some family integration was observed in our unit, however the process was not structured.
Purpose: To improve family integration from some level to a moderate level using the structured family integration model.
Methods: A family integration model was developed and validated. It was converted into videos to educate parents and help them participate in the care of their hospitalized neonates. The parents of preterm neonates were enrolled on admission. In PDSA 1, 25 mothers were enrolled, they received the link of videos and saw the videos in the mother’s room on LCD. In PDSA 2, the next 25 mothers received the link and saw the videos in the mothers' room and one support person to clarify their doubts. The assessment of FIC was done for 3 months. The improvement was seen in FIC scores and the content was converted in the NICUFIC app. In PDSA 3, 28 participants were enrolled and they were encouraged to use the app.
Results: The FIC improved to a moderate level at the end of all PDSA. The stress was reduced and the satisfaction level of parents improved.
Conclusion: The structured FIC model in the form of video links and App helped improve FIC in our units. The effect is enhanced if a support person is available to clarify the doubts.
