Transitioning to Single-Family Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Rooms and Healthcare Professionals' Perception of Work Quality

BACKGROUND: Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU's) are transitioning from Open Bay Units (OBUs) to Single-Family Rooms (SFRs), to promote a more family-integrated care environment and improve infant and parent outcomes. PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of this transition on healthcare professionals (HCPs). METHODS: In this longitudinal observational cohort study, conducted at both NICU's of the Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC (September 2020-November 2023), care environments transitioned from OBU to SFR, with an intermediate transitional mixed (TM). HCPs completed Smith's "Occupancy Quality Survey" to assess perception of quality of physical work environment, patient care and patient safety, job-related, interaction among members of the NICU care team, interaction with the NICU technology, and quality of life outside work. Outcomes were reported as mean ± SD, and group differences were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: A total of 290 HCPs participated (68.9% nurses, 86.2% female, 54.4% aged 30-50). Calculated indicator scores were statistically significant higher in the SFR than in the OBU for environment, patient care and safety, and interaction with technology. Off-job quality of life score was higher in the SFR but did not differ statistically significant. Job-related quality and team interaction remained comparable across phases. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: Transitioning from OBU to SFR positively influenced HCPs' perceptions of work quality. Active involvement of HCPs throughout the redesign process may have contributed to this effect. Potential stress among HCPs during and after the transition to SFRs, as well as challenges related to team interaction and cohesion, should be carefully considered.