Mind the gap: Comparing parents' information needs about impending preterm birth to current clinical practices using a mixed methods approach

Angela C.M. van Zijl*, Sylvia A. Obermann-Borst, Marije Hogeveen, E. J.T.Joanne Verweij, Willem B. de Vries, Rosa Geurtzen, Nanon H.M. Labrie

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objective: To identify parents' information needs about impending very preterm birth and compare these needs to current information practices in the Netherlands. Methods: Step 1: We surveyed N = 203 parents of preterm infants to assess their information needs. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Step 2a: We collected information resources from hospitals (N = 9 NICUs) and via an online search. These materials were analyzed using deductive thematic analysis. Step 2b: We compared findings from Steps 1-2a. Results: We identified four themes pertaining to parents' information needs: (1) participation in care, (2) emotional wellbeing, (3) experience/success stories, and (4) practical information about prematurity. Clinicians' communicative skills and time were considered prerequisites for optimal information-provision. Notably, hospital resources provided mainly medical information about prematurity with some emphasis on participation in care, while parent associations mainly focused on emotional wellbeing and experience/success stories. Conclusion: While parents demonstrate clear information needs about impending very preterm birth, current information resources satisfy these partially. Innovation: Our multidisciplinary research team included both scholars and veteran NICU parents. As such, we identified parents' information needs bottom-up. These parent-driven insights will be used to design an innovative, tailored information platform for parents about impending very preterm birth.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100297
JournalPEC Innovation
Volume4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors

Keywords

  • Antenatal counseling
  • Clinician-patient communication
  • Information needs
  • Information provision
  • Patient involvement
  • Preterm birth

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