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Developing a blueprint for a neonatal transition navigator role to support parents of high-risk infants: Protocol for a qualitative implementation science.
ABSTRACT
Background:
Parents of infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), particularly those born preterm or with medical complexity, commonly experience heightened stress, anxiety, and depression during the transition from hospital to home. Although navigator-led transition interventions show promise, evidence remains limited on how these models can be implemented, adapted, and sustained in real-world neonatal care settings.
Objective:
Building on findings from the Coached, Coordinated, Enhanced Neonatal Transition multicentre Randomized Controlled Trial (CCENT RCT), this study aims to refine the Neonatal Transition Navigator (NTN) role and develop an implementation blueprint for broader healthcare adoption.
Methods:
This qualitative implementation science study will use focus groups with parents who participated in the CCENT intervention and former CCENT nurse navigators to explore barriers, facilitators, and core role components relevant to NTN implementation. Qualitative data will be analyzed using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Findings will be mapped to implementation strategies using the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) taxonomy and the CFIR-ERIC Matching Tool. Identified strategies will be prioritized through Nominal Group Technique consensus processes with an interdisciplinary Advisory Committee and refined using the APEASE criteria (Acceptability, Practicability, Effectiveness, Affordability, Side-effects, and Equity).
Results:
As of June 2026, recruitment and data collection were completed. Focus groups were conducted with 9 parents and 5 neonatal transition navigators, and 17 advisory committee members participated in the co-development process. Data analysis is currently underway.
Conclusions:
Findings will inform the development of a key partner-designed implementation blueprint to support the adoption of the Neonatal Transition Navigator role across neonatal care settings. Clinical Trial: Parent trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03350243 (CCENT randomized controlled trial). This qualitative implementation study builds on the registered parent trial.
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