Parental evaluation of a tour of the neonatal intensive care unit during a high-risk pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To describe parents' reaction to a prenatal tour of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during a high-risk pregnancy and identify advice they have for other parents and health care professionals who participate in a such a tour.


METHODS
Naturalistic inquiry, a qualitative approach.


METHODS
Semistructured interviews were conducted in the hospital or parents' home.


METHODS
Thirteen expectant parents who had toured a NICU during a high-risk pregnancy.


METHODS
Three categories of information were described by the parents: (a) a description of the tour; (b) benefits of the tour; and (c) an evaluation of the way that the tour was arranged and conducted, including advice to health care professionals and other parents.


RESULTS
All parents recommended that parents diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy be offered a prenatal tour of the NICU. The tour benefited parents and (a) decreased fears, (b) inspired hope for the infant's prognosis, (c) provided reassurance about the care in the NICU, and (d) prepared parents for their infant's hospitalization in the NICU.


CONCLUSIONS
Parents experiencing a high-risk pregnancy benefit from a tour of the NICU. The tour familiarized parents with the NICU and the type of care that their newborn would require. However, during the tour, more attention should be given to the parental role in the NICU.
Griffin
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T
Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
Kavanaugh
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K
Soto
C F
CF
White
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M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk / Q000523:psychology*; D011379:Prognosis; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires