Parent-infant closeness after preterm birth and depressive symptoms: A longitudinal study.

Background: Preterm birth increases the risk for postpartum depression in both mothers and fathers, calling for strategies to alleviate and prevent depressive symptoms in parents of preterm infants. The aim of this study was to assess the association between early parent-infant closeness and later depressive symptoms among parents of preterm infants. We hypothesized that longer duration of closeness associate with fewer depressive symptoms in both parents.

Developing family-centred care in a neonatal intensive care unit: An action research study.

Aim: To develop, implement and evaluate family-centred interventions to promote parental involvement in caregiving in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Methodology: A participatory action research approach was used to implement two changes in practice a) improved skin-to-skin contact b) unlimited parental presence at the cot-side. The changes were underpinned by a family-centred philosophy of care and education.

Developing family-centred care in a neonatal intensive care unit: an action research study protocol.

Aim: The aim of this study was to develop, implement and evaluate evidence-based family-centred interventions and to promote parental involvement in the care of infants in neonatal intensive care.

Background: Parental involvement in the care of their infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units leads to improved neonatal outcomes. Although research identifies the benefits of individual interventions to promote family-centred care, little is known about how they might be implemented in everyday practice.

Parental involvement in neonatal pain management: reflecting on the researcher-practitioner role.

Aim: The objective of this paper is to identify and explore some of the ethical and professional issues facing the clinical researcher-practitioner and to discuss how these were addressed in one particular study.

Background: The author's experience of undertaking ethnographic research in the organisation in which she works as a nurse consultant highlighted a number of ethical and professional dilemmas. This paper discusses how some of these issues, particularly relating to informed consent, confidentiality, practice concerns and exploitation were addressed.

Parental involvement in neonatal comfort care.

Objective: To explore how parents interact with their infants and with nurses regarding the provision of comfort care in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Design: Focused ethnography.

Setting: A regional NICU in the United Kingdom.

Interviewing women: using reflection to improve practice.

Caryl Skene uses a model of reflection to revisit her experience as a novice researcher In doing so, she highlights the skills required to undertake qualitative research and suggests that nursing experience alone does not equip a researcher with those skills. A significant part of her reflection concentrates on the relationship between the researcher and the research, and the impact it may have on the research process and on those involved in it.