Acceptability of concept wearable devices to treat newborn jaundice.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A qualitative study exploring acceptability of concept wearable phototherapy devices for the treatment of newborn jaundice at home in rural settings.
IRAS ID
264674
Contact name
Aileen Grant
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
RGU
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 25 days
Research summary
Research Question:
What are caregivers’ views on a wearable device to deliver phototherapy treatment in rural homes to newborn infants with jaundice?Jaundice is a common condition affecting 60% term and 80% preterm infants (born before 37 weeks in pregnancy) in their first week. It turns their skin colour yellow due to build-up of bilirubin, resulting in long term problems with brain function if not treated. Phototherapy is a light source used to treat newborn infants with jaundice. If treatment is needed most infants will stay in hospital for two days to have phototherapy. In 2018, 36% of newborn readmissions to NHS Grampian were due to jaundice. Recently a textile was created that could be made into sleepsuits to give phototherapy at home. Future plans for neonatal services in Scotland focus on family centred care. To enable this, we need to look at how we care for newborn infants and consider changes.
Questions:
•What are the views of healthcare professionals and parents, from rural locations, with jaundiced newborn infants towards home phototherapy treatment?
•What are the views of parents and healthcare professionals towards a wearable home phototherapy device for the treatment of newborn jaundice?
•What are the views of parents and healthcare professionals about the benefits and problems of wearable home phototherapy to treat newborn jaundice?Researchers want to speak to healthcare professionals with relevant experience from NHS Grampian for one hour. They want to speak for one hour to parents over 16 years old, who self-identify as living rurally in Aberdeenshire or Morayshire, with experience, in the last five years, of newborn infants requiring phototherapy for jaundice. The study is part of a MRes through RGU and funded by the Digital Health Institute. Benefit of taking part is to positively impact the changes happening to neonatal services.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SW/0118
Date of REC Opinion
27 Jun 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion