Telemedicine in Neonatal Home Care: Identifying Parental Needs Through Participatory Design

• DOI: 10.2196/resprot.5467
• Publication Date: 2016-07-08T10:34:52Z
• Authors: Kristina Garne; Anne Brødsgaard; Gitte Zachariassen; Jane Clemensen
• Keywords: Participatory Design

For the majority of preterm infants, last weeks hospital admission mainly concerns tube feeding and establishment breastfeeding. Neonatal home care (NH) was developed to allow infants remain at for breastfeeding with regular visits from neonatal nurses. hospitals covering large regions, may be challenging, time consuming, expensive alternative approaches must explored.To identify parental needs when wanting provide supported by telemedicine.The study used participatory design qualitative methods. Data were collected observational studies, individual interviews, focus group interviews. Two units participated. One unit experienced in providing visits, other planned offer telemedicine support. A total 9 parents assigned a program 10 admitted participated interviews respectively.Three overall themes identified: being family, parent self-efficacy, nurse-provided security. Parents expressed desire following: (1) device serve as "bell cord" unit, giving 24-hour access nurses, (2) video-conferencing security home, (3) timely written email communication (4) an online knowledge base on infant care, breastfeeding, nutrition.Our findings highlight importance care. NH provides feeling supports their gives them combined nursing guidance. did not request hands-on support but instead need guidance, which could met using telemedicine.