Parental satisfaction with quality of care in neonatal follow-up programs

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to describe parental satisfaction with the quality of care received in the Neonatal Follow-up Clinic (NFC). Study participants included 218 mothers and 215 high-risk children who were part of a larger study to develop an NFC-specific instrument, the Parent Satisfaction Questionnaire for Neonatal Follow-up (PSQ-NFU), to measure parental satisfaction with quality of care. Parents completed the 16-item PSQ-NFU while waiting for their child’s NFC appointment. A high mean parental satisfaction score of 93.5 (SD = 12.3) was reported (possible scores range from 16 [least satisfied] to 112 [most satisfied]). Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis revealed that study site was significantly associated with parental satisfaction scores ( p < 0.001); and, abnormal neurodevelopmental status of the child contributed to lower parental satisfaction scores, but only in combination with study site ( p = 0.029). Future studies of families of varying ethic and socioeconomic backgrounds in different NFC settings would add to the current knowledge.