Parents using live streaming video cameras to view infants in a regional NICU: impacts upon bonding, anxiety and stress

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Kilcullen, Meegan Lesley;Kandasamy, Yogavijayan;Evans, Michelle;Kanagasignam, Yogesan;Atkinson, Ian;van der Valk, Steven;Vignarajan, Janardhan;Baxter, Michelle
Abstract

Background: While live streaming from the NICU has entered standard care in some tertiary hospitals, few studies have been explored the impact of this technology upon parents. Aim: To understand the impact of live-streaming vision of infants in NICU to their parents. Method: In the present study, cameras were installed and parents live-streamed vision of their infants while admitted to a regional NICU. Camera usage data were recorded, and parent-infant bonding, parental stress and anxiety data were collected via online survey across four time points. Results: While parents preferred to be with their infant in person, there was strong acceptance of the technology. There were no significant differences in camera usage across the admission and at 3-month follow-up. The relationships between camera usage and bonding, stress, and anxiety scores varied across time points and no significant changes in anxiety, stress and bonding scores were identified. Conclusion: Implementation of this technology into standard care requires streaming stability and support for staff and parents to effectively use the technology.

Journal

Journal of Neonatal Nursing

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Volume

28

ISBN/ISSN

1878-089X

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Issue

1

Pages Count

9

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Publisher

Elsevier

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EISSN

N/A

DOI

10.1016/j.jnn.2021.03.013