When a baby is born premature or has an inferior start after birth, admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NIC) is necessary. Sometimes the admission is planned, but often it is acute/unanticipated and an emotional, difficult period begins for parents. NIC units view parents as primary caregivers and value their active involvement in the baby's care. Involving parents allows them to build rapport with their child, which results in the baby feeling safe, reduces stress and favors growth and development.
Currently, the NeoParent app is being developed to support parents during their baby's stay, aiming to personalize information, optimize communication between all involved and encourage parental participation. A pilot study in the fall will test the app to identify technical bugs, monitor its use and evaluate it with parents/caregivers.
Although this initial prototype focuses on important aspects such as information, communication and parent participation, additional needs were raised by practitioners and parents, namely attention to the extended family (siblings, grandparents) and continuity of care after discharge. Furthermore, it became clear that it is necessary to map the effectiveness of the NeoParent app and the win-win for parents (in terms of attachment, well-being and comfort, etc.). In addition, it is necessary to further optimize and valorize this first prototype before the app can become part of standard care offerings.
