Creating a calmer NICU: Parental and nursing perspectives of a therapeutic device

Calmer is a therapeutic bed designed to mimic aspects of skin-to-skin care (SSC) for preterm infants when parents are unavailable. Understanding user perspectives of technology in healthcare is critical to effective implementation. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of parents and NICU nurses using Calmer with preterm infants over 3 weeks of exposure. Eight nurses and 6 parents of infants who used Calmer were interviewed. Interviews were transcribed and coded, with consensus verification among two independent researchers. Four main themes emerged: Calmer concept translation, design and function, Calmer fits into nursing care, and future guidance. All interviewees found Calmer user-friendly and effective as an adjunct to SSC. Nurses reported limited disruption to workflow, and parents valued the reassurance of simulated parental presence. All emphasized that Calmer was not a replacement for SSC; suggestions for improvement were provided. Our findings highlight moving closer to Calmer's readiness for implementation in NICUs.