How to support parents after neonatal gastrointestinal surgery – an integrative review

Problem: Parents of infants with congenital gastrointestinal or abdominal malformations often face complex care needs post-discharge, impacting family health and well-being. These parents are at risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder and report impaired quality of life. They require close contact with the hospital after discharge and often lack adequate support from current healthcare services.
Purpose: This integrative review aims to synthesize published quantitative and qualitative evidence regarding parents' mental health, their experiences throughout the patient pathway, and their support needs during the first two years of their infant's life.
Eligibility Criteria: The study followed the integrative review process of Whittemore & Knafl. A systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, and CINAHL. Included were research articles published after 2004, focusing on the experiences, support needs, and mental health of parents of infants with gastrointestinal or abdominal malformations within the first 24 months of life.
Sample: The review included 7 quantitative and 5 qualitative studies, assessed for quality using The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.
Results: The overarching theme identified was "Resilience in early parenthood requires mental strength, practical coping, and supportive relations," based on three categories: 1) Echoes of trauma, 2) Facing reality, and 3) Empowering connections.
Conclusions: When discharging infants after neonatal gastrointestinal surgery, a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral approach between hospital and community care is needed to ensure sufficient support to the parents.
Implications: Optimal support and parental involvement require multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral care planning for infants with complex care needs.