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Meesters N, van Dijk M, Sampaio de Carvalho F, et al. COVID-19 lockdown impacts the wellbeing of parents with infants on a Dutch neonatal intensive care unit. J Pediatr Nurs. 2021;doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2021.09.024.
Meesters, N., van Dijk, M., Sampaio de Carvalho, F., Haverman, L., Reiss, I. K. M., Simons, S. H. P., & van den Bosch, G. E. (2021). COVID-19 lockdown impacts the wellbeing of parents with infants on a Dutch neonatal intensive care unit. Journal of pediatric nursing, . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.09.024
Meesters, Naomi, et al. "COVID-19 lockdown impacts the wellbeing of parents with infants on a Dutch neonatal intensive care unit." Journal of pediatric nursing vol. (2021). doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.09.024
Meesters N, van Dijk M, Sampaio de Carvalho F, Haverman L, Reiss IKM, Simons SHP, van den Bosch GE. COVID-19 lockdown impacts the wellbeing of parents with infants on a Dutch neonatal intensive care unit. J Pediatr Nurs. 2021 Sep 28; doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2021.09.024. Epub 2021 Sep 28. PMID: 34642075; PMCID: PMC8482115.
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J Pediatr Nurs. 2021 Sep 28; doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2021.09.024. Epub 2021 Sep 28.

COVID-19 lockdown impacts the wellbeing of parents with infants on a Dutch neonatal intensive care unit.

Journal of pediatric nursing

Naomi Meesters, Monique van Dijk, Fernanda Sampaio de Carvalho, Lotte Haverman, Irwin K M Reiss, Sinno H P Simons, Gerbrich E van den Bosch

Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Erasmus MC -Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: [email protected].
  2. Intensive Care and Department of Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC -Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
  3. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Erasmus MC -Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
  4. Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry & Psychosocial Care, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

PMID: 34642075 PMCID: PMC8482115 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2021.09.024

Abstract

PURPOSE: Parents of infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience additional stress due to restrictions on their presence and visits by other family members during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study aims to describe how this impacted parents and how NICU staff could support them.

DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study in which 25 parents (16 mothers, 9 fathers) of infants admitted to our NICU during the first COVID-19 lockdown completed online questionnaires with socio-demographic questions, the Parental Stressor Scale:NICU (PSS:NICU) and questions related to COVID-19.

RESULTS: Being separated from, and not being able to hold their infant at all times were among the most important PSS:NICU stressors. Parents experienced additional stress because other family members were not allowed to visit. They indicated that NICU staff could support them by clearly explaining the reasons for visitor restrictions and by ensuring that they felt heard. Most parents supported the restrictions, but also mentioned that less strict measures would really help them.

CONCLUSIONS: Parents who participated in this study found it very stressful that they could not be with their infant together with their partner and other family members. Furthermore, parents recommended the hospital management to continuously reconsider whether particular restrictions could be lifted in case of a new lockdown. Together with clear communication, this would result in less parenteral stress.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Hospital management should be cautious on restricting the presence of parents and other family members and scale restrictions back whenever possible.

Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords: COVID-19; NICU; Parental stress; Restrictions

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest None.

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