Testing a Family Supportive End of Life Care Intervention in a Chinese Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Quasi-experimental Study With a Non-randomized Controlled Trial Design.

Background: Neonatal death often occurs in tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). In China, end-of-life-care (EOLC) does not always involve parents. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate a parent support intervention to integrate parents at the end of life of their infant in the NICU. Methods: A quasi-experimental study using a non-randomized clinical trial design was conducted between May 2020 and September 2021. Participants were infants in an EOLC pathway in the NICU and their parents. Parents were allocated into a family supportive EOLC intervention group or a standard EOLC group based on their wishes. The primary outcomes depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for mothers; Hamilton Depression rating scale for fathers) and Satisfaction with Care were measured 1 week after infants' death. Student Results: In the study period, 62 infants died and 45 infants and 90 parents were enrolled; intervention group 20 infants, standard EOLC group 25 infants. The most common causes of death in both groups were congenital abnormalities ( Conclusions: Supporting parents in EOLC in Chinese NICUs might decreased their depression and increase satisfaction after the death of their infant. Future research needs to focus on long-term effects and expand on larger populations with different cultural backgrounds. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT05270915.