Table 3:
Clinicians’ Responses for the Kangaroo Care Device Evaluation Survey
| Must NOT have N / (%) |
Not important N / (%) | Nice to have N / (%) |
Must Have N / (%) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Features of a Kangaroo Care Device: Important for Baby | ||||
| Device holds the proper kangaroo position consistently | 1 (0.6) | 1 (0.6) | 38 (24.0) | 118 (74.7) |
| Only the fabric touches the baby (e.g., not buttons /zippers /snaps /stiches) | 0 (0) | 4 (2.5) | 39 (24.7) | 115 (72.8) |
| Supports proper kangaroo position without pressure points on the baby’s body | 2 (1.3) | 3 (1.9) | 40 (25.3) | 113 (71.5) |
| Avoids stuffing the infant down into the device (i.e., works around the baby) | 1 (0.6) | 0 (0) | 50 (31.7) | 107 (67.7) |
| Fabric is stretchable yet strong | 0 (0) | 1 (0.6) | 52 (32.9) | 105 (66.5) |
| Device maximizes chest-to-chest contact | 1 (0.6) | 1 (0.6) | 51 (32.3) | 105 (66.5) |
| Fabric is breathable | 1 (0.6) | 1 (0.6) | 53 (33.5) | 103 (65.2) |
| Minimizes infant movements that may dislodge equipment/lines | 1 (0.6) | 6 (3.8) | 49 (31.0) | 102 (64.6) |
| Protects infant from air drafts | 0 (0) | 8 (5.1) | 59 (37.3) | 91 (57.6) |
| Device holds baby’s weight during sitting, standing, reclining | 1 (0.6) | 9 (5.7) | 59 (37.3) | 89 (56.3) |
| Provides containment without restraining infant movement | 1 (0.6) | 3 (1.9) | 67 (42.4) | 87 (55.1) |
| Is re-adjustable as the infant grows | 0 (0) | 5 (3.2) | 91 (57.6) | 62 (39.2) |
| The device closing mechanism is quiet to minimize disruption | 1 (0.6) | 5 (3.2) | 95 (60.1) | 57 (36.1) |
| Device has only one layer of fabric over the baby | 1 (0.6) | 42 (26.6) | 76 (48.1) | 39 (24.7) |
| Device covers any part of the baby’s head | 36 (22.8) | 52 (32.9) | 63 (39.9) | 7 (4.4) |
| Features of a Kangaroo Care Device: Important for Parents | ||||
| Safety: Reduces accidental falls if parent falls asleep or uses hands during kangaroo care | 1 (0.6) | 1 (0.6) | 22 (13.9) | 134 (84.8) |
| Easy for parents to use | 0 | 0 | 55 (34.8) | 103 (65.2) |
| Comfortable for parents | 0 | 1 (0.6) | 57 (36.1) | 100 (63.3) |
| Fabric is anti-allergenic | 0 | 3 (1.9) | 66 (41.8) | 89 (56.3) |
| Supports privacy: device is not see-through and covers parents’ nipples | 0 | 5 (3.2) | 73 (46.2) | 80 (50.6) |
| Keeps parent comfortable in a hot/cold room | 0 | 3 (1.9) | 91 (57.6) | 64 (40.5) |
| Supports parental independence: parents can put device on and off alone, without support from staff | 1 (0.6) | 11 (7.0) | 85 (53.8) | 61 (38..6) |
| Supports privacy: minimizes time parent is exposed during transfer/interventions | 0 | 5 (3.2) | 94 (59.5) | 59 (37.3) |
| Supports parental independence: with the device, parents may safely transfer the baby as clinically appropriate | 2 (1.3) | 12 (7.6) | 97 (61.4) | 47 (29.8) |
| Parents can put device on while standing, laying down, sitting | 1 (0.6) | 13 (8.2) | 103 (65.2) | 41 (25.9) |
| Allows for breastfeeding/pumping during kangaroo care | 0 | 21 (13.3) | 104 (65.8) | 33 (20.9) |
| Device can hold multiple babies simultaneously | 1 (0.6) | 21 (13.3) | 114 (72.1) | 22 (13.9) |
| Features of a Kangaroo Care Device: Important for the Healthcare Team | ||||
| Immediate and effective access from the top, bottom, and side of the baby (for emergencies and interventions) | 0 | 0 | 35 (22.1) | 123 (77.85) |
| Device supports quick and easy transfers | 0 | 2 (1.3) | 64 (40.5) | 92 (58.2) |
| Device supports sitting and standing transfers | 0 | 3 (1.9) | 76 (48.1) | 79 (50) |
| There are publications, studies, and scholarly evidence to support use of the device | 0 | 7 (4.4) | 74 (46.8) | 77 (48.7) |
| Minimum disruptions to the baby if immediate access is needed | 0 | 3 (1.9) | 81 (51.3) | 74 (46.8) |
| Color of fabric: ability to see if the baby is bleeding, if equipment is leaking, or if baby’s position needs adjusted | 2 (1.3) | 10 (6.3) | 96 (60.8) | 50 (31.7) |
| Features of a Kangaroo Care Device: Important for Administration | ||||
| Device is washable | 0 | 1 (0.6) | 27 (17.1) | 130 (82.3) |
| Device is unisex (for male and female caregivers) | 0 | 16 (10.1) | 56 (35.4) | 86 (54.4) |
| Quality control is demonstrated by the manufacturer | 0 | 4 (2.5) | 69 (43.7) | 85 (53.8) |
| Training is provided by manufacturer to use the device | 2 (1.3) | 21 (13.3) | 72 (45.6) | 63 (39.9) |
| Use of the device is intuitive with minimal training | 4 (2.5) | 1 (0.6) | 90 (57.0) | 63 (39.9) |
| A variety of sizes to fit the individual caregiver (e.g., not 1 size fits all caregivers | 2 (1.3) | 13 (8.2) | 84 (53.2) | 59 (37.3) |
| Device is safe during caregiver transport (e.g., from delivery room to postpartum room) | 5 (3.2) | 21 (13.3) | 75 (47.5) | 57 (36.1) |
| Versatile to use device in any unit and at home | 6 (3.8) | 11 (7.0) | 89 (56.3) | 52 (32.9) |
| Device is able to be reused for multiple patients | 27 (17.1) | 29 (18.3) | 55 (34.8) | 47 (29.8) |
| Reduces supply chain costs (costs of determining inventory, storage space, providing training, maintaining quality control) | 1 (0.6) | 15 (9.5) | 102 (64.6) | 40 (25.3) |
| Healthcare providers can easily use the device to kangaroo patients if the unit loses power | 6 (3.8) | 24 (15.2) | 92 (58.2) | 36 (22.8) |
| Device is available for retail for parents to buy | 9 (5.7) | 29 (18.3) | 87 (55.1) | 33 (20.9) |
| Caregivers could take device home after proper training and continue kangaroo at home with device | 13 (8.2) | 25 (15.8) | 89 (56.3) | 31 (19.6) |
| Device has one size that fits all caregivers | 29 (18.3) | 48 (30.4) | 63 (39.9) | 18 (11.4) |