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Quality of life among parents of preterm infants: a scoping review

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Abstract

Purpose

To synthesize the body of knowledge on the factors influencing the QoL of mothers and fathers of preterm infants.

Methods

A scoping review was performed. Publications indexed in PubMed®, Web of Science™, CINAHL® and PsycINFO® were searched, targeting studies presenting original empirical data that examined parental perception on QoL after a preterm delivery. Eligibility and data extraction were conducted by two independent researchers. The main quantitative findings were synthesized and qualitative data were explored by content analysis.

Results

The studies, 11 quantitative and 1 mixed methods, were derived mainly from the USA (n = 6). Heterogeneity across the studies was observed regarding the operationalization of QoL and the use of units of analysis (mothers, parents, families and caregivers). In a context where 40 out of 45 covariates were analysed by only one or two studies, results suggested that parental QoL after a preterm delivery is influenced by factors related with mother’s characteristics, family issues and health care environment rather than infants’ variables. Factors regarding fathers’ characteristics and structural levels were not addressed.

Conclusions

Standardizing the operationalization of the QoL when analysing mothers and fathers of preterm infants calls for a structured questionnaire adapted to their specific needs. Further research should include both mothers and fathers, invest in mixed methods approaches and be performed in different countries and settings for allowing integration and comparison of findings.

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Funding

This work was supported by FEDER funding from the Operational Programme Factors of Competitiveness—COMPETE and by national funding from the Foundation for Science and Technology—FCT (Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education) under the project “Parenting roles and knowledge in Neonatal Intensive Care Units” (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-019902; Ref. FCT PTDC/CS-ECS/120750/2010) and the Unidade de Investigação em Epidemiologia—Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto (EPIUnit) (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006862; Ref. UID/DTP/04750/2013); the grants PD/BD/105830/2014 (to MA), SFRH/BPD/103562/2014 (to EA), co-funded by the FCT and the POPH/FSE Program and the FCT Investigator contract IF/01674/2015 (to SS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas nº135, 4050-600, Porto, Portugal

    Mariana Amorim, Susana Silva & Elisabete Alves

  2. Departamento de Ciências da Saúde Pública e Forenses e Educação Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal

    Mariana Amorim, Susana Silva & Elisabete Alves

  3. Global Public Health Doctoral Programme, Porto, Portugal

    Mariana Amorim

  4. INSERM UMR1027, 31000, Toulouse, France

    Michelle Kelly-Irving

  5. Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, UMR1027, 31000, Toulouse, France

    Michelle Kelly-Irving

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  1. Mariana Amorim
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  2. Susana Silva
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  3. Michelle Kelly-Irving
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  4. Elisabete Alves
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Correspondence to Mariana Amorim.

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Amorim, M., Silva, S., Kelly-Irving, M. et al. Quality of life among parents of preterm infants: a scoping review. Qual Life Res 27, 1119–1131 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-017-1771-6

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