Implementation of Infant & Family-centred Developmental Care practises in Cyprus Neonatal Units

Abstract Background & Aims Infant and Family-centred Developmental Care (IFCDC) framework is recognised as gold standard for the NICU environment, yet it's implementation in clinical practice remains a challenge worldwide. <<DeVeLop NICU LIFE >> aims to design an intervention for the effective implementation of IFCDC in Cyprus NICU's using a Participatory Action Research approach. Methods The study is conducted in 4 phases with the participation of all stakeholders and a mixed methodology and sequential explanatory design. The first step involved the assessment of current clinical practices of the two existing NICU's (N1, N2), according to the framework of IFCDC, by the Health Professionals using the Evaluation Lists of Family & Infant Neurodevelopmental Education. Eleven evaluation domains were scored for each unit and a mean percentage score was calculated per domain. Results Overall, implementation of the IFCDC framework was low and ranged from 9.3% to 55.5%. Seven out of eleven domains scored less than 40%. Better implementation for both NICU's was identified for <<Bedding & Positioning >> (N1=55.5%, Ν2=52.7%) and <<Skin to skin contact >> (N1=47.6%, N2=40.4%). Among the lowest scores were <<Staff Support & Development >> (N1=11.7%, N2=11.7%) and <<Parent Participation >> (N1=14.2, N2=23.8%). Conclusions Despite some good practices in the implementation of IFCDC in Cyprus NICU's, there is a need to enhance practices in most areas of the framework. Investigating the barriers to the implementation and mapping those to the Theoretical Domains Framework in the next phases of the study will enable the design of intervention Key messages • Infant and Family-centred Developmental Care is recognised as the gold standard practice for the NICU environment but implementation remains a challenge. • Stakeholder participation in the evaluation of the implementation of IFCDC reveals strengths and identifies gaps to guide intervention design, facilitate behavioural change and improve practices.