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Parent concerns for child development following admission to neonatal intensive or special care: From birth to adolescence
Author(s) -
Bater Megan L,
Stark Michael J,
Gould Jacqueline F,
Anderson Peter J,
Collins Carmel T
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.16030
Subject(s) - medicine , cohort , pediatrics , cohort study , language development , intensive care , developmental milestone , child development , thematic analysis , neonatal intensive care unit , family medicine , developmental psychology , psychiatry , intensive care medicine , qualitative research , psychology , social science , pathology , sociology
Aim To describe the presence and nature of parent concerns regarding the development of their children admitted to Australian neonatal units (NNUs), comprising neonatal intensive care or special care. Methods In a cross‐sectional survey, mothers and fathers provided information regarding concerns for their child's development. The self‐administered survey was completed by two separate cohorts; (i) parents of child graduates from Australian NNUs ( n = 381); (ii) parents of infant's inpatient in two South Australian NNUs ( n = 209). Data were analysed using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. Results Information was provided for 730 children. Developmental concern was reported for 39% of NNU graduates and 35% of inpatients. Children born very preterm (< 32 weeks' gestation) elicited greater parent concern than those born more mature (Cohort 1: 41% vs 36%; Cohort 2: 49% vs 22%), including in multiple developmental domains (Cohort 1: 17% vs 15%; Cohort 2: 28% vs 4%). Parents with inpatient infants were predominantly concerned about general development‐milestones (19.1%) and the potential impact of medical or CNS issues (13.7%). Graduate parents commonly focused on specific domains, such as their child's speech‐language (13.7%) and motor (12.9%) development. Conclusion Neurodevelopment is a substantial source of concern for mothers and fathers during NNU admission and childhood, particularly for children born very preterm. However, in the first year of life, developmental concerns are poorly defined. This highlights the need for clinical education resources detailing infant developmental expectations and supportive strategies for parents of these high‐risk infants.