[Psychosocial care in institutional neonatology in Germany: a quantitative-empirical inventory from the medical professionals' perspective]

Abstract

Background: The available studies concerning the long-term development of preterm infants emphasise the protective significance of the parents. As a consequence, concomitant psychosocial support for parents during the neonatal period aiming at moderating the adverse effects of the critical incident "premature birth" is deemed to be imperative. The aim of this study is to assess the supply of psychosocial services in neonatal care units as viewed by medical professionals in Germany.

Methods: A representative questionnaire-based survey in German neonatal care units was undertaken. A descriptive evaluation was made of frequency distributions, comparison of means between former West German and former East German states and levels of neonatal care (levels I-III).

Results: The time-budget available for parent consultation is considered insufficient by approximately one third (31.9%) of the medical personnel, 22.2% of the interviewees felt this task to be excessively demanding. As a standard, the option for cooperation with a qualified psychosocial consultant is available in 67.0% of the neonatal care units. 95.7% of the medical personnel consider this cooperation a desirable support; 97.9% consider interdisciplinary cooperation in neonatology a desirable option in general.

Conclusions: Additional time for parent consultation is desirable and necessary. Psychosocial services should be extended and provided for in neonatal care units and appropriate financial and personnel resources should be made available.

Discussion: In many neonatal care units there is an awareness for the benefits of an appreciative, family-centred atmosphere as well as interdisciplinary cooperation. This is a favourable starting point for research efforts concerning further inquiries into implementation standards of family-centred, concomitant consultation.