Distress, self-efficacy, feeling informed and the Babble app: A New Zealand neonatal parent sample. Issue 2 (April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gibson, Charlotte; Williams, Matt; Ross, Kirsty; de Vries, Nathalie
• Is Part Of: Journal of neonatal nursing. Volume 29:Issue 2(2023)
• Page Start: 273
• Page End: 277
• Publication Date: 2023-04
• Subjects: Neonatal unit -- Distress -- Feeling informed -- Parental self-efficacy -- Babble; Newborn infants -- Care -- Periodicals; Newborn infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neonatal intensive care -- Periodicals; Soins infirmiers en néonatologie -- Périodiques; Infant, Newborn, Diseases -- Periodicals; Intensive Care, Neonatal -- Periodicals; Neonatal Nursing -- Periodicals; 618.9200231
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnn.2022.06.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1355-1841

Abstract

Abstract: Parents of infants admitted to a neonatal unit often experience difficulties with their mental health and express a desire for clear and consistent information. The present study aimed to investigate parental experiences of New Zealand neonatal units, and the effect of an informational support app, Babble, on measures of distress, self-efficacy, and how informed parents felt. A between-subjects post-test only quasi-experimental design, comparing participants grouped by Babble app use (yes/no) was used. Parents of infants admitted to any neonatal unit within 12 months were invited to participate in an online survey. Parental distress, parental self-efficacy, and how informed parents felt during their admission were the main outcome measures. 449 parents were included in the analyses. 44 participants reported having used the Babble app. There was no evidence of an effect of Babble app use on any of the outcome measures; distress, self-efficacy, or feeling informed. Findings did however indicate that the more informed parents felt, the lesser their distress and the greater their self-efficacy. Although results suggested being more informed serves to reduce distress and increase self-efficacy, there was little evidence of an effect of the specific intervention explored. Despite this, supporting parents to feel informed about their neonatal experience may be beneficial in enhancing parental self-efficacy and reducing parental distress.