Mental wellbeing of parents of children with neonatal HIE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Parental experiences and perceptions of hypothermia treatment (TH) after neonatal hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE)
IRAS ID
347012
Contact name
Brigitte Vollmer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 31 days
Research summary
This study aims to explore the well-being of parents of infants with neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE), who received brain cooling (therapeutic hypothermia, TH). The focus of the study is to explore their experiences and perceptions of the treatment and investigate parents’ emotional experiences during and after TH. The overall aim is to develop an understanding of the impacts on their life, and their experience in raising a child with HIE. Parents of infants born at Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton and will be included.
The parents of children with neonatal HIE will be recruited during routine clinical assessments by the clinical team when the infants are between 0-24 months of age. A mixed methods design will be used in the study. Semi-structured interviews will also be conducted to explore their experiences in the neonatal unit and raising a child with HIE; a quantitative study using standardised measures to assess well-being (stress, depression and anxiety), birth-related stress, sense of coherence, family self-efficacy, coping and resilience and perception of social support.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/YH/0208
Date of REC Opinion
16 Oct 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion