The NBO: influencing provider confidence

Blanchard, Y., Keefer, C., Tynan, K., Nugent, J. K. The Newborn Behavioral Observation (NBO): 
Influencing Provider Confidence. Ab Initio International, Summer, 2008: http://www.brazelton-institute.com/abinitio2008spring/index.html

Abstract

A total of 100 clinical professionals participated in 5 training seminars offered in 2005-2006 at the Brazelton Institute-Boston site and three off-site locations (California, Florida, New York). Participants represented the following professional backgrounds: NICU family support, health education, child development, social work, neonatal nursing, maternal child health nursing, speech pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, rehabilitation counseling, OB-GYN, neonatology, pediatrics. Of the 100 professionals who participated in training, 54 completed pre- and post-training questionnaires. All participants (n = 100) responded to an additional two questions on the post-training questionnaire. Results from the questionnaires suggest that the NBO is effective at increasing participants' level of confidence in their ability to offer parents child development information and guidance around caregiving. Whether the reported increase in confidence lead to increased provider competence in clinical settings remain to be demonstrated but, nevertheless, the results indicate that the NBO training is effective in giving participants new information on infant development, on communication strategies and on relationship-building with families. The qualitative data suggest that providers feel the NBO is an effective tool for communicating with families and sharing observations about a child's behavior, in the interest of establishing successful relationships with families. The NBO prompts a behavioral shift in professionals, moving them from just understanding that parents are experts to a clinical approach that is collaborative and inclusive of families' perspectives and skills. Data suggest that participants value a collaborative relationship with families. They appear ready to let go of their role as "teachers" and instead learn to guide and support the parent, as equal partners.