E-Health in neonatal care

Project: Research

Project Details

Description

Around 7,000 babies are born prematurely in Sweden every year, and thanks to improved healthcare, more and more babies survive. The medical definition is that children must be born before the 37th week of pregnancy. Some children are born very prematurely or extremely prematurely, i.e. before v.28. Being born before v.28 often means a long period of care with intensive care, and where the child usually has a great need for care. The number of premature births is increasing both in Sweden and internationally. There are many risks with being born prematurely because the organs are not fully developed. Most premature babies manage without problems but are a vulnerable and exposed group. Finally being able to come home can be experienced as difficult after a long hospital stay. At the same time, the parents experience a great relief to come home to their usual environment and to feel like a family again. The neonatal home health care is responsible for follow-up and contact with the family at home. It is also important that care develops and uses digital communication that can strengthen the family so that parents experience increased security when going home.

The parents receive an e-plate when they go home to keep at home as long as they are enrolled in neonatal care. This then allows the parents to communicate with the staff about the child's health using pictures, videos, and chat through a secure and encrypted connection. The e-plate does not replace the visits or telephone contact from the neonatal home health care but is a supplement. The e-plate means that parents can quickly get in touch with the staff at the neonatal care partly through the chat function, sending videos, and pictures. It is possible with monitoring of the child such as following the weight.

The eHealth solution is now being evaluated in an implementation study at Skåne University Hospital. Children and parents in several specialties use the eHealth solution during periods at home with residual care needs. Evaluation takes place using digital questionnaires for children and parents as well as via interviews with family members and professional caregivers with a focus on children's participation in care, as well as family members' satisfaction with care and perceived usefulness of the eHealth solution. Data collection is planned to continue during 2023.

The project is part of the FORTE-funded research program eChildhealth.
StatusActive
Effective start/end date2019/11/142026/02/28

Collaborative partners

UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This project contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities

UKÄ subject classification

  • Nursing

Free keywords

  • ehealth
  • children
  • parents
  • pediatric care
  • hospital at home
  • neonatology