Parent preferences for neurodevelopmental screening in the neonatal intensive care unit

Aim To determine whether, and how, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) parents want to receive early neurodevelopmental screening information about their child's future risk of cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Method This was a qualitative interview study. Parents of hospitalized infants born preterm completed semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using a directed content analysis approach. Results Thematic saturation was achieved after 19 interviews. Four themes characterized parent perceptions of early neurodevelopmental screening: (1) acceptability: most parents were in favour of neurodevelopmental screening if parents could refuse; (2) disclosure of results: parents want emotional preparation for results, especially false positives; (3) emotional burden of uncertainty: parents of children in the NICU balance taking their infant's illness 'day by day' and preparing for an uncertain future. Parents expressed distress with screening that increased uncertainty about the future; and (4) disability: prior experience with disability informs parent concerns. Interpretation Parents interpret the risks and benefits of NICU developmental screening through the lens of prior experiences with disability. Most expressed interest in screening and emphasized a desire for autonomy, pretest counselling, and emotional preparation. What this paper adds Most parents with infants in the neonatal intensive care unit expressed interest in early screening for developmental disability. Prior experience with disability informed concerns about specific deficits. Parents emphasized a desire for autonomy, pretest counselling, and emotional preparation.