Abstract
BACKGROUND: Parents of infants hospitalised in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) experience significant stress and require clear, consistent communication. Involving them in family-centred rounds (FCR), a key component of family-centred care (FCC), may help meet these needs. AIM: To assess the feasibility of implementing FCR in a NICU setting in Switzerland. STUDY DESIGN: This one-group pre-post feasibility study was conducted from June to September 2022. Feasibility was evaluated using three dimensions: acceptability (participation rate and duration), implementation (fidelity of the intervention and open-ended questions), as well as limited efficacy. Efficacy was assessed through parent-reported stress and satisfaction (PSS, EMPATHIC-N) before and after participation in FCR and healthcare professional (HCP) reported interprofessional collaboration (AITCS-II) before and after implementation. RESULTS: A total of 37 rounds were conducted with seven parents (24% participation). FCRs lasted on average 12m13s, compared to 8m49s for traditional rounds (mean difference: 3m24s). Fidelity, observed in 18 FCRs during the study period, showed some variability. Open-ended survey questions from both parents and HCP provided qualitative insights on implementation determinants. Parents reported reduced stress after FCR and increased satisfaction in the 'parental involvement' subscale. Among professionals, only the 'coordination of care' subscale showed significant improvement. CONCLUSIONS: FCR implementation was feasible and showed potential to improve parental stress, satisfaction and interprofessional collaboration. Further evaluation of whether FCRs can be sustained over time is warranted. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: FCR may enhance family partnerships in NICUs and improve care experiences for both families and healthcare teams, and promote a family-centred care environment.