Mothers' Views and Experiences of Digital Maternal Presence Intervention and Skin-to-Skin Contact for Neonatal Pain Relief: A Qualitative Study.

Abstract

Aim: To explore mothers' views and experiences on using digital maternal presence intervention (DMPI) and skin-to-skin contact (SSC) for pain relief in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Design: A qualitative descriptive study design.

Methods: Purposive sampling was used to recruit 25 mothers whose newborns were treated in a neonatal intensive care unit in Finland and who had participated in a study exploring the effectiveness of non-pharmacological pain relief methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between May 2023 and May 2024 and analysed using content analysis.

Results: Mothers experienced DMPI as a meaningful way to participate in their newborn's pain care and as a method that supported mother-infant attachment. Although their views on its analgesic effectiveness varied, they perceived DMPI as a womb-simulating way to comfort their newborns when they could not be present. SSC was generally viewed as effective for pain relief and beneficial for emotional well-being and bonding; however, mothers described varied feelings about its use during painful procedures and identified challenges that hindered its implementation.

Conclusion: Mothers perceived DMPI as a meaningful way to engage in their newborn's pain relief when they could not be present, whereas SSC was viewed as an effective and emotionally supportive method despite constraints on its use.

Implications for practice: Maternal participation in pain relief can be supported in neonatal intensive care units by facilitating the use of SSC when feasible and offering DMPI when mothers cannot be present.

Patient contribution: Mothers of newborns participated in the pre-testing of the interview framework and in the interviews.

Reporting method: Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ).

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04967118.