To explore neonatal unit policy and practice, and neonatal healthcare workers' experiences, beliefs and perceptions of twin cobedding in Australia.
A two-part convergent mixed methods design was used. Part 1 data were collected via an online survey of neonatal units. Part 2 data were collected by focus groups and interviews with healthcare workers. Findings were integrated to create final results.
21 neonatal units, and 17 healthcare workers participated in this study. Significant variations in twin cobedding practices were reported within and across neonatal units. Practice variation was influenced by several interlinked factors, captured in four themes: (1) Policy-Driven Practitioners in a Policy Vacuum; (2) Evidence, Knowledge and Education; (3) Personal Beliefs and Practice Observations; and (4) “The Parent Owns that Baby”—Being Family-Centred.
Due to widespread practice and policy variations, and a lack of evidence-based education for staff, healthcare workers appear to be making individual decisions regarding cobedding practice, potentially creating confusion for twin families navigating care.
Improvements to twin cobedding practice education are needed to enable clinicians to support twin families in their care. Separation of twins in neonatal units needs to be addressed, regardless of twin cobedding practice. Research identifying benefits and any potential risks of twin cobedding practice is required.
Neonatal healthcare workers are policy-driven practitioners who value clear evidence and education to confidently support the families in their care. It is important that evidence-based guidelines for twin cobedding are developed to support them in family-centred clinical practice.
MMAT guidelines were used to prepare this manuscript.
No Patient or Public Contribution.
To explore post-anaesthesia care unit nurses' perceptions and experiences in managing paediatric emergence delirium, and to understand their experiences in implementing the Cornell Assessment of Paediatric Delirium—Traditional Chinese version tool in clinical practice following delirium-focused education.
This interpretive qualitative study involved 20 nurses in the post-anaesthesia care unit from a medical centre hospital in Taiwan who participated in small group interviews after completing delirium-focused education. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews between October and December 2024 and analysed using a thematic analysis approach.
Five main themes were identified: (1) First impressions and reflexive actions during emergence delirium, (2) Clinical interpretation through observation and elimination, (3) The dual role of parents in emergence delirium management, (4) Negotiating trust and learning with the delirium screening tool and (5) System-level needs and recommendations. Nurses described the chaotic and emotionally charged nature of emergence delirium episodes, the intuitive yet uncertain interpretive work they performed, the complex influence of parental presence, evolving trust in structured assessment tools and systemic barriers that hindered timely emergence delirium recognition.
Nurses face complex clinical, emotional and relational challenges in managing paediatric emergence delirium. Embedding delirium awareness into practice requires sustained training, screening integration and proactive parental engagement.
Findings highlight the need for integrating delirium screening into post-anaesthesia care routines, the need for ongoing education and preparing parents for emergence delirium scenarios to enhance care delivery and safety.
The COREQ checklist was used for reporting.
No patient or public involvement.