A new study from UC Davis Children’s Hospital reveals that virtual family-centered rounds are a valuable tool for engaging families with children in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), especially benefiting minority families and those without college educations. Published in Telemedicine and e-Health, the research indicates that offering a virtual option significantly increases attendance and enhances opportunities for parents to support their child’s care.
Increased Parental Participation
Family-centered rounds, involving physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, and other medical team members, are designed to improve communication and patient care. These rounds allow families to learn about their child’s condition, ask questions, and provide critical insights regarding allergies or medication effectiveness. However, in-person attendance can be challenging for many families.
According to Jennifer Rosenthal, associate professor of Pediatrics and first author of the study, "We found that virtual access really improved parent attendance. Those increases were greatest for racial and ethnic minorities, families with no college education and people who lived in neighborhoods with poor health conditions. We are excited because adding this virtual option could overcome some of these inequities."
Telehealth Bridges Equity Gaps
Previous research has established that family-centered rounds boost parents’ confidence, increase engagement, and improve outcomes, such as reduced hospital stays. The researchers hypothesized that telehealth could further improve attendance by allowing parents to participate remotely via their phone or computer.
Kristin Hoffman, clinical professor of pediatrics and co-author of the study, noted, "Our families often can't be at the bedside. Parents have jobs and other kids. Sometimes, the mother is at an outside hospital. Virtual family-centered rounds give them the opportunity to engage with their child’s care without upending their lives."
Study Details and Findings
The study randomized 110 families, with 74 given the option to participate in virtual family-centered rounds and 36 serving as controls. The results demonstrated a significant increase in participation among racial and ethnic minorities, individuals without college educations, and those from neighborhoods with poorer health conditions.
"With in-person, family-centered rounds, minority participation was much lower," Hoffman explained. "However, with virtual rounds, that gap almost closed, so it has the potential to reduce some of those care disparities."
Implications for Medical Education and Future Research
Family-centered rounds also offer benefits for medical education, providing residents and trainees with valuable opportunities to interact with families. The research team is expanding on this work with a new study testing virtual family-centered rounds with professional interpreters for families with language preferences other than English.
"Virtual family-centered rounds have the potential to really level the playing field," Hoffman concluded. "They are giving families with barriers to care better opportunities to participate and advocate for their children."
