Parents using live streaming video cameras to view infants in a regional NICU: Impacts upon bonding, anxiety and stress

Abstract Background While live streaming from the NICU has entered standard care in some tertiary hospitals, few studies have been explored the impact of this technology upon parents. Aim To understand the impact of live-streaming vision of infants in NICU to their parents. Method In the present study, cameras were installed and parents live-streamed vision of their infants while admitted to a regional NICU. Camera usage data were recorded, and parent-infant bonding, parental stress and anxiety data were collected via online survey across four time points. Results While parents preferred to be with their infant in person, there was strong acceptance of the technology. There were no significant differences in camera usage across the admission and at 3-month follow-up. The relationships between camera usage and bonding, stress, and anxiety scores varied across time points and no significant changes in anxiety, stress and bonding scores were identified. Conclusion Implementation of this technology into standard care requires streaming stability and support for staff and parents to effectively use the technology.