[Parent groups. Crisis intervention for parents of extremely premature infants during hospitalization]

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the benefit from participation in parent groups for parents of extremely premature new-born babies. The participation in the parent groups led by the psychologist took place during the hospitalization of the child on the neonatal ward. All parents of extremely premature new-borns admitted to the neonatal department, Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark in the period from 1 January 1992 to 30 June 1994, were asked to fill in questionnaires. The study population comprised the parents of 58 children. The parents of 14 children did not want to participate. Of the remaining 44 children, 36 were alive and eight had died at the time of the study. Most parents participated in the parent group and the majority stated they had benefited from the participation. It is therefore considered a relevant psychological task to establish parent groups for parents of extremely premature new-borns as a mean of crisis intervention in the neonatal department.