Funding outcome

Parents and families can be included in research by helping to create questions, chose methods, collect data, and interpret results. Studies have shown us that when parents and family members are involved in research, it leads to better health outcomes for their children. However, it can be difficult to involve parents of babies or young children, and therefore is not done often. Because of this, a group in Alberta is currently doing research with parents whose babies are in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The goal of their research is to make an NICU patient and family satisfaction survey that will be used province-wide. In my study, I will evaluate the process they used to include parents when making the survey. My goals are to understand the roles of the parents, and to look at factors that effected their involvement, so it can be improved in the future. To do this, I will interview the parents who participated in the creation of the survey. I will speak with 7 parents, most likely over zoom due to COVID-19 restrictions. Interview questions will be created using a framework to guide me, and data will be analyzed and managed appropriately. My work is focused on understanding and improving the way parents are engaged in child health research. I will present my findings at the International Sigma Theta Tau Research Congress in Singapore, and at WCHRI research day. My research findings will help guide how researchers involve parents in child health research and the best ways that we can do this.