THE AIMS HOME-VIDEO METHOD: EXPERIENCES AND APPRAISAL FOR USE IN OUTPATIENT CLINICS BY PARENTS OF VERY PREMATURELY BORN CHILDREN

I. Suir1,2, M. Boonzaaijer1,2, J. Nuysink1, M. Jongmans2
1Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, Research Group Lifestyle and Health, Institute of Human Movement Studies, Utrecht, Netherlands, 2Utrecht University, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Pedagogical and Educational Sciences, Utrecht, Netherlands

Background: As seen recently during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing healthcare at distance has become very important. The use of eHealth technology could be an alternative for, or complementary to diagnostics and treatment. It can reduce costs, increase efficiency and provide better access to healthcare. In The Netherlands, prematurely born infants and their parents are offered regular developmental check-ups in a hospital setting. In line with providing healthcare at distance, the use of video footage showing the infant’s behavior and movements, taken by parents at home and assessed by professionals online, might be a fruitful future practice.

Purpose: The focus of this study was an exploration of parents' experiences with the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) home-video method, and their envision on home-videos as part of the follow-up clinic.

Methods: A qualitative study among parents of healthy extremely or very premature infants (GA 26.2-31.5 weeks) participating in a longitudinal study of motor development between 3-18 months corrected age. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted. Recordings were transcribed verbatim according to a standard protocol. Data was analyzed independently. Inductive thematic analysis was performed following the process of the AIMS home-video method.

Results: Parents like to make home-videos of their infant. It takes effort the first time, but less thereafter. Instructions, instruction film and checklists, were clear. Parents gained more insight into what their infant can do and experienced it mainly as a confirmation that their infant is doing well. Parents think it is easier to film their infant when they are together, which makes it sometimes more difficult to plan. Improvements should be made with regard to the user-friendliness of uploading the film material. Privacy was not an issue.
Besides, parents think the (AIMS) home-video method complementary to follow-up visits. Parents are willing to make a film, either because parents have concerns about their infant or because the expert has a specific question about the infants’ development or behavior. Also, when an infant feels uncomfortable in the clinic and it doesn’t show what it is able to, they see the home-video method as a good alternative to show professionals the abilities of their infant.

Conclusion(s): Parents generally experienced the AIMS home-video method positively and see it complementary to the follow-up neonatology visits of premature infants. Main disadvantages were encountered in the technical aspects of the method. Future research should focus on the feasibility and experiences of health-care professionals with the home-video method.

Implications: Parents are able to make and like making home-videos of their infant, also for clinical purposes. They think home-videos are complementary to real life diagnostics and treatment.

Funding, acknowledgements: This research was funded by a personal PhD grant from the The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).

Keywords: eHealth, extremely premature infant, motor development

Topic: Paediatrics

Did this work require ethics approval? No
Institution: University Medical Center Utrecht
Committee: The Research Ethics Committee of University Medical Center Utrecht
Reason: Subjects are not subject to actions or imposed to a course of conduct as in the definition of medical scientific research..


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