Parent perceptions of an NICU follow-up clinic.
OBJECTIVE
To learn how parents perceived their experiences during a visit to an academic center's NICU follow-up clinic and what they would change about the clinic if given the opportunity.


METHODS
A qualitative study utilizing artifact collection, participant observation, and semistructured interviews.


METHODS
Seven families that went to the clinic.


METHODS
What parents did and did not like about the clinic and what they would change about the clinic.


RESULTS
Parent concerns included lack of information about the clinic prior to the first appointment, length of wait prior to seeing the physician, preference for more appropriate toys for use during the wait, desire for additional explanations during the exam process, uncertainty about the effects of prematurity on their child's development, and need for more developmental and parenting information.
Hussey-Gardner
B T
BT
NICU Follow-Up Clinic, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland at Baltimore, USA.
Wachtel
R C
RC
Viscardi
R M
RM
D000359:Aftercare; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002657:Child Development; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000592:standards*; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception