Home Phototherapy: A Parental Perspective Survey Study

Home phototherapy (HP) is an emerging treatment for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, offering benefits such as reduced hospital admissions and enhanced parent-infant bonding. Despite its application elsewhere, HP services are not routinely offered in many Canadian centers, and parental perspectives on this modality remain underexplored. This study aimed to assess parental interest in HP, identify preferred forms of support, and explore socioeconomic associations. A survey of 319 eligible parents found that 98.7% had previously used in-hospital phototherapy, while only 1.3% had used HP. Although 80.3% were initially unaware of this service, 93.7% expressed a willingness to consider using HP. Preferred forms of support included 24/7 virtual access (62.1%), daily in-home visits (72.1%), and hands-on training (87.8%). Major concerns included monitoring progress (77.9%) and emergency support (52.7%). In summary, HP appears appealing to caregivers when adequate support and training are provided; however, limited awareness and safety concerns highlight the need for structured education.