WIP 81 - Parental Satisfaction in the NICU by Race, Ethnicity and Gender

Poster Number: WIP 81
Publication Number: WIP 81.876

Background: Parental satisfaction differs amongst racial and ethnic groups, with people of color being less satisfied than their white counterparts. When surveyed, Black families described wanting more support, attention, compassion, and respect from the medical team. There are a lack of data on Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) parent’s satisfaction both amongst racial groups and within parental dyads. Knowing parental satisfaction by race and ethnicity is essential to reducing health care disparities, as this information can be used to improve both communication and support for all types of families

Objective: The primary objective is to understand if parental satisfaction with hospital care differs based on parental sex or race and ethnicity. The secondary objective is to assess differences in medical mistrust between different racial and ethnic groups.

Design/Methods: This is a prospective, longitudinal, observational survey-based study that was approved by the IRB. Consent is obtained from parents of patients admitted to the NICU for > 4 days and meeting inclusion criteria. We modified a standardized and validated instrument, called the EMpowerment of PArents in THe Intensive Care (EMPATHIC), to measure satisfaction of NICU parents. The questionnaire was distributed electronically to each consenting member of the parental dyad, requesting that each parent complete the questionnaire separately. If still admitted, each parent was asked to complete the questionnaire at 30 days and again at discharge if admitted > 36 days and at least 7 days passed since last questionnaire completion. Responses to the questionnaire are deidentified and analyzed after the patient’s discharge from the NICU. Based on power calculations for a statistical significance threshold of p-value < 0.05 and a desired power of 80%, we aim to recruit a minimum of 20 parental participants per racial/ethnic category (Hispanic, Non-Hispanic (NH) White, NH Black, NH Asian and Other/Multiracial). 30 patients have been enrolled with anticipated completion of enrollment February 2023.