Parental visiting, communication, and participation in ethical decisions: a comparison of neonatal unit policies in Europe
- M Cuttinia,
- M Rebagliatob,
- P Bortolia,
- G Hanseni,
- R de Leeuwc,
- S Lenoird,
- J Perssone,
- M Reidf,
- M Schroellg,
- U de Vonderweida,
- M Kaminskih,
- H Lenardi,
- M Orzalesij,
- R Saraccik
- aUnit of Epidemiology and Unit of Neonatal Intensive Care Burlo Garofolo Children’s Hospital Trieste Italy, bDepartment of Public Health Miguel Hernandez University Alicante Spain, cDepartment of Neonatology Amsterdam University The Netherlands, dUnit of Research on Reproduction INSERM CJF 89–08 Toulouse France, eCentre for Medical Technology Assessment LinkÖping University Sweden, fDepartment of Public Health University of Glasgow Scotland, gDepartment of Paediatrics Luxembourg Hospital Luxembourg, hUnit of Research on Maternal and Child Health U.149 INSERM Villejuif France, iDepartment of Paediatrics Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf Germany, jNeonatal Intensive Care Unit Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital Rome Italy, kDivision of Epidemiology National Research Council Pisa Italy
- Dr Marina Cuttini Unit of Epidemiology Burlo Garofolo Children’s Hospital via dell’Istria 65/1 34137 Trieste Italy. Email:cuttini{at}burlo.trieste.it
- Accepted 15 May 1999
Abstract
AIM To compare neonatal intensive care unit policies towards parents’ visiting, information, and participation in ethical decisions across eight European countries.
METHODS One hundred and twenty three units, selected by random or exhaustive sampling, were recruited, with an overall response rate of 87%.
RESULTS Proportions of units allowing unrestricted parental visiting ranged from 11% in Spain to 100% in Great Britain, Luxembourg and Sweden, and those explicitly involving parents in decisions from 19% in Italy to 89% in Great Britain. Policies concerning information also varied.
CONCLUSIONS These variations cannot be explained by differences in unit characteristics, such as level, size, and availability of resources. As the importance of parental participation in the care of their babies is increasingly being recognised, these findings have implications for neonatal intensive care organisation and policy.
