“I NEEDED PEER SUPPORT SO I COULD SHARE MY THOUGHTS”: SUPPORT FOR THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT PARENTS - A Mixed Method Research Approach
Baloch, Erum; Centeno-Salo, Daniela (2022)
Baloch, Erum
Centeno-Salo, Daniela
2022
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022112023189
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022112023189
Tiivistelmä
The aim of the thesis is to find out what the needs of parents with babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are from the social services aspect. The research-oriented thesis examines what kind of social support was given to the NICU parents and how their experience was. With the results, the work-life partner, social workers in the maternity wards and other organizations can develop and further improve their services.
A survey was drafted and through the work-life partner, Kevyt - Association of Preemie Families in Finland, was sent to members of their organization and their social media followers. The survey consisted of structured open-ended and close-ended questions.
The research data was collected via an online questionnaire using the mixed-method research approach. The analysis methods used were descriptive statistics and interpretative phenomenological analysis. The survey was filled by 43 respondents in Finnish language over a period of 4 weeks. The most significant results were that the main support received by NICU parents was in the form of conversation discussion. The support most parents wished they would have received was peer support. Many parents ended up looking for the support on their own. The social support received was not consistent and needed improvement. Parents believe they only receive the support they ask for and know what to ask for, without it being offered routinely.
The results suggest that the social support offered to NICU parents has improved in the last years; nevertheless, parents are not fully satisfied with it. Non-birthing and non-Finnish-speaking NICU parents are sometimes excluded from the support provided.
Keywords: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Preterm Infant, Social Support, Preventive Family Work, Peer Support
A survey was drafted and through the work-life partner, Kevyt - Association of Preemie Families in Finland, was sent to members of their organization and their social media followers. The survey consisted of structured open-ended and close-ended questions.
The research data was collected via an online questionnaire using the mixed-method research approach. The analysis methods used were descriptive statistics and interpretative phenomenological analysis. The survey was filled by 43 respondents in Finnish language over a period of 4 weeks. The most significant results were that the main support received by NICU parents was in the form of conversation discussion. The support most parents wished they would have received was peer support. Many parents ended up looking for the support on their own. The social support received was not consistent and needed improvement. Parents believe they only receive the support they ask for and know what to ask for, without it being offered routinely.
The results suggest that the social support offered to NICU parents has improved in the last years; nevertheless, parents are not fully satisfied with it. Non-birthing and non-Finnish-speaking NICU parents are sometimes excluded from the support provided.
Keywords: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Preterm Infant, Social Support, Preventive Family Work, Peer Support