Premium
Single‐family room design in the neonatal intensive care unit did not improve growth
Author(s) -
Tandberg Bente Silnes,
Frøslie Kathrine Frey,
Markestad Trond,
Flacking Renèe,
Grundt Hege,
Moen Atle
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.14746
Subject(s) - medicine , head circumference , gestational age , neonatal intensive care unit , pediatrics , birth weight , pregnancy , genetics , biology
Abstract Aim The aim was to compare growth in very premature infants cared for in a single‐family room (SFR) and an open‐bay (OB) unit. We recorded duration of parental presence and skin‐to‐skin contact as proxies for parental involvement in care of their infants. Methods We consecutively included infants with gestational ages 28 + 0 through 32 + 0 weeks at two hospitals in Norway, one SFR unit (n = 35) and one OB unit (n = 42). Weight, length, and head circumference were followed from birth to four months after term date. Both units adhered to the same nutritional protocol and methods of recording events. Results The SFR mothers spent a mean (standard deviation) of 111 (38) hours and the OB mothers 33 (13) hours with their infants during the first week and 21 (5) versus 7 (3) hours per day later. The respective duration of skin‐to‐skin care was 21 (10) versus 12 (8) hours during the first week and 4.2 (2) versus 3.0 (2) hours per day later. The differences were similar, but less pronounced for the fathers. The growth trajectories did not differ between the groups. Conclusion SFR care was associated with more parental involvement, but not with better growth.