Existing Tools for Improving Day-to-Day Communication With Parents in Neonatology: A Narrative Review.

Abstract

Aim: Communication is essential, yet rarely taught in paediatrics. The literature describes skills to improve parent communication in neonatal intensive care units.

Methods: A PubMed search from 1 January 2023 to 5 May 2025 retrieved articles on communication in neonatology. Communication related to poor prognosis, end-of-life, antenatal issues, ethics and family integrated care was excluded. Data underwent deductive and inductive thematic analysis.

Results: The review included 37 articles, with three themes: basic skills of good communication, means of strengthening communication and learning communication skills. Basic skills comprised: preparing the meeting, using the infant's name, having a dedicated caregiver, being interested in psychosocial and lifestyle issues, paying attention to non-verbal communication and being aware of what the parents want to know and knowing how to say it. Means of strengthening communication comprised acronym checklists, communication algorithms, written information, counselling tools, FaceTime or text-messaging and adapting communication for non-native-speaking parents. Communication skills could be learned by simulation and calling on a counsellor.

Conclusion: This review highlighted some of the ways in which neonatologists can improve communication skills. Knowing basic interactions, using structured frameworks, giving written tools for parents and running communication training simulations are some of the key elements highlighted in the literature.