Enhancing Parents’ Well-Being after Preterm Birth—A Qualitative Evaluation of the “Transition to Home” Model of Care

Natascha Schuetz Haemmerli, Liliane Stoffel, Kai-Uwe Schmitt, Jeannine Khan, Tilman Humpl, Mathias Nelle and Eva Cignacco
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Natascha Schuetz Haemmerli: Department of Health Professions, Bern University of Applied Sciences, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
Liliane Stoffel: Department of Paediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
Kai-Uwe Schmitt: Department of Health Professions, Bern University of Applied Sciences, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
Jeannine Khan: Kantonale Schule für Berufsbildung, 5001 Aarau, Switzerland
Tilman Humpl: Tilman Humpl, Department of Paediatrics, St. Elisabethen-Krankenhaus, Kliniken des Landeskreises Lörrach, 79539 Lörrach, Germany
Mathias Nelle: Mathias Nelle, Children’s Hospital, Kreiskliniken Böblingen, 71302 Böblingen, Germany
Eva Cignacco: Department of Health Professions, Bern University of Applied Sciences, 3008 Bern, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-20

Abstract: There are few programs available aimed at preventing short- and long-term negative consequences after preterm birth and covering the entire care continuum. The “Transition to Home (TtH)” model is such a program, offering structured, individual support for families with preterm infants before and after hospital discharge. This study gathers and examines the parents’ views of receiving support from an interprofessional team under the TtH model of care during hospitalization and after discharge. Using a qualitative explorative design, 39 semi-structured interviews with parents were analyzed thematically. From this analysis, three main themes were identified: (1) TtH and the relevance of continuity of care; (2) Enhancement of parents’ autonomy and self-confidence; (3) Perception of interprofessional collaboration. Within these themes, the most relevant aspects identified were continuity of care and the appointment of a designated health care professional to anchor the entire care continuum. Emotional support complemented by non-medical approaches, along with strength-based and family resource-oriented communication, also emerged as key aspects. Continuous, family-centered care and well-organized interprofessional collaboration promote the well-being of the family after a premature birth. If the aspects identified in this study are applied, the transition from hospital to home will be smoothened for the benefit of affected families.

Keywords: preterm infant; parents; transitional care; early intervention; home visiting; qualitative research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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