title: Support like a walking stick: parent-buddy matching for language and culture in the NICU.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  (1) To explore the experience of non-English-speaking mothers with preterm, very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (,1,500 g); and (2) to examine mothers' assessment of a peer support program matching them with linguistically and culturally similar parent-buddies.
  
  
  METHODS
  An exploratory, qualitative analysis based on grounded theory.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of eight mothers from four of the most prevalent non-English-speaking cultures (Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and Tamil) in an urban Canadian-teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-Anglophone mothers' experience and support in the NICU.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Study mothers experienced intense role disequilibrium during the unanticipated crisis of preterm birth of a VLBW infant; situational crises owing to the high-tech NI CU environment and their infant's condition; and developmental crises with feelings of loss, guilt, helplessness, and anxiety. Language barriers compounded the difficulties. Parent-buddies helped non-English-speaking mothers mobilize their strengths. Culture and language are important determinants of service satisfaction for non-English-speaking mothers. Linguistically congruent parent-to-parent matching increases access to service.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Frida
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ardal
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sulman
authors.forename: Esme
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fuller-Thomson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D003469:Culture; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report; D012944:Social Support