The POPPY study: developing a model of family-centred care for neonatal units.

BACKGROUND

The concept of family-centred care in neonatal practice has become increasingly recognised internationally. The underlying philosophy puts parents and the family at the centre of health care and promotes "individualised, flexible care."

AIMS

To develop the first international model of family-centred care based on strong parental collaboration in the synthesis of robust research evidence to generate the philosophy, principles, model, and indicators for implementation. METHODS AND SYNTHESIS: Seven key steps were followed to develop the POPPY model of care collaboratively with parents. Step 1 drew on the POPPY systematic review to identify effective interventions. Step 2 drew on the POPPY qualitative study to identify good parent experiences. Step 3 identified the philosophy and principles of the POPPY model of care. Step 4 identified the key stages of the POPPY model of care. Step 5 populated the POPPY model of care with data from steps 1 and 2. Step 6 developed the indicators of family-centred care; and Step 7 undertook some initial testing with parents and practitioners.

RESULTS

Seven key stages of the parents' journey through their neonatal unit experience were identified and formed the architecture of the POPPY model of care. These include: before admission to the unit, admission, early days, growing and developing, transfers between units and between levels of care, preparing for discharge, and transition to home and at home. A philosophy, a set of principles to underpin the model, and a set of indicators to guide implementation in neonatal units were developed.

CONCLUSION

The POPPY model of family-centred care provides the first robust, collaboratively developed, parent-centred model, which can be implemented to deliver high quality care to parents of preterm infants.

IMPLICATIONS

Implementing the POPPY model could help neonatal units to develop parent-focused services which better meet parents' needs for information, communication and support, key elements of family-centred care.