Culturally competent nursing care as a promoter of parental empowerment in neonatal unit: A scoping review
Joana Rodrigues, Mariana Prosperi Ferreira Calado Dias, Maria Matilde Rodrigues Fatela, Cristina Jeremias Rosa Jeremias, Miguel Pereira Gonçalves Negreiro, Odete Lemos e Sousa
Abstract
In neonatal units, a significant number of newborns and their respective parents and families are hospitalized, each with culturally distinct practices and perspectives that require specialized knowledge. However, the literature lacks comprehensive evidence depicting culturally competent nursing care that concurrently promotes parental empowerment in the neonatal units. The review was conducted following the methodology recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute and in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews - Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Searches were performed on MedLine, CINAHL, Psychology and Behavioral Science Collection, MedicLatina, Scopus, Web of Science, the Scientific Open Access Repository of Portugal (RCAAP), Mednar, and Google Scholar. Study eligibility criteria were defined based on the PCC mnemonic. A total of 608 records were identified for title and abstract screening, with 30 selected for full-text review. Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. The studies, published between 2002 and 2023, focused on the following cultures: Lumbee, Chinese, Jewish, Ghanaian, Nigerian, Ugandan, Mexican, Taiwanese, Iranian, and Aboriginal. Culturally competent nursing care promoting parental empowerment is categorized into: the relationship between parents and healthcare professionals, the care process, alignment of needs with community resources, alignment of needs with healthcare, and receiving information and emotional support. Culturally competent care, rooted in family-centered care, promotes parental empowerment, which can consequently translate into improved quality of nursing care. Recommendations for clinical practice, education, and research are suggested, emphasizing the importance of identifying cultural determinants and needs perceived by parents with children admitted to neonatal care units, specific to each culture present in different countries.