Child development education in the Neonatal Unit: Understanding parent developmental literacy needs, priorities and preferences

Megan L Bater; Jacqueline F Gould; Carmel T Collins; Peter J Anderson; Michael J Stark

doi:10.1016/j.pec.2023.108058

Child development education in the Neonatal Unit: Understanding parent developmental literacy needs, priorities and preferences

Patient Educ Couns. 2024 Feb:119:108058. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2023.108058. Epub 2023 Nov 10.

Authors

Megan L Bater¹, Jacqueline F Gould², Carmel T Collins³, Peter J Anderson⁴, Michael J Stark⁵

Affiliations

¹ Discipine of Paediatrics, Adelaide Medical School, the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia; SAHMRI Women and Kids, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia; Neonatal Unit, Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, Australia; Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: megan.bater@adelaide.edu.au.
² Discipine of Paediatrics, Adelaide Medical School, the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia; SAHMRI Women and Kids, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia; School of Psychology, the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
³ Discipine of Paediatrics, Adelaide Medical School, the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia; SAHMRI Women and Kids, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia.
⁴ Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health & School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
⁵ Discipine of Paediatrics, Adelaide Medical School, the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia; SAHMRI Women and Kids, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia; Neonatal Unit, Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, Australia; Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.

PMID: 37976667
DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2023.108058

Abstract

Objective: To describe child development knowledge needs, priorities, and preferences for education to enhance developmental literacy among parents with children admitted to the neonatal unit (NNU).

Methods: Two separate cohorts completed a survey; 1) Parents with children graduated from Australian NNUs (n = 316); 2) Parents with infants' inpatient at two South Australian NNUs (n = 209).

Results: Parents considered it extremely important to understand child development (Graduates: 80%; Inpatients: 71%). Inpatient parents reported lower child development knowledge. Almost half (42%) of graduate parents described the child development education provided by neonatal staff as poor or inadequate. There was consistency in preferences for developmental literacy education provision. Parents desired education to commence during NNU and continue post discharge. Priorities included content specific to preterm birth and how to support child development over the first two years of life. Individualised education by a Neonatal Nurse/Midwife was most preferred.

Conclusion: Mothers and fathers value guidance to support their child's development during NNU admission and early childhood. Our study highlights the importance of improved early developmental literacy education for parents with children admitted to the neonatal unit.

Practice implications: Our findings can be used to inform the creation of future educational resources targeting improved parent developmental literacy.

Keywords: Child development; Father; Health literacy; Neonatal intensive care; Parent education; Preterm birth.

MeSH terms

Aftercare
Australia
Child
Child Development*
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
Literacy
Parents
Patient Discharge
Premature Birth*