SNOWDROP
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How do parental Stressors of the Neonatal environment change Over time? What Differences do fathers Report On their experience when compared to mothers? A mixed methods approach using the neonatal unit Parental stress scale and thematic analysis.
IRAS ID
278810
Contact name
Melanie West
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 2 days
Research summary
The neonatal intensive care unit can be a very stressful and emotional experience for both mothers and fathers. Research into this area is extensive, however there are certain areas that have been neglected – namely how these stressors for parents can change over time (some parents spend months in the neonatal unit before their baby is well enough to go home) and the opinion of fathers. The West Midlands has a higher than UK average rate of babies born prematurely. This research will be looking at the opinions of both mothers and fathers in an acute neonatal intensive care unit in Wolverhampton, at two different time-points. The Neonatal Unit Parental Stressor scale will be used to measure the thoughts and feelings of parents. The data from this scale will then be used to inform a focus group comprising of parents who took part in the initial part of the study. The focus group will cover ways in which the neonatal unit of this particular hospital can improve to minimise the stress experienced by parents at different stages of their stay.
This research will be particularly worthwhile because it will address the areas that need further research as detailed above, and it will also contribute towards improving care for parents and babies in an area of the UK that has a higher than average percentage of this population. The current research will also separate the views of mothers and fathers, and so lending a voice to the often neglected paternal opinion.REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/WM/0105
Date of REC Opinion
1 Jun 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion