Examining the Implementation of the Eat, Sleep, Console Model of Care for Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in Nova Scotia

Supervisor: Dr. Christine Cassidy, Dalhousie University. Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is when an infant becomes dependent on an opioid exposed to them during pregnancy. The number of babies diagnosed with NAS in Nova Scotia has increased over the last decade. Nurses and the health care system are tasked with unique challenges to address the growing population. This population continues to face discrimination, stigma and poor health outcomes due to fear, apprehension and lack of collaboration with the health care system. To help address these challenges, a new model of care has been implemented at a central and rural hospital in Nova Scotia to improve health outcomes for infants with NAS and their families. This new model of care, the Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) model, emphasizes family collaboration and empowerment. Although this new model is promising in addressing the challenges faced by this population, little is known about how to implement this model into practice. As such, the primary aim of the proposed mixed-methods study is to complete a process evaluation to understand how to implement and sustain this model in practice successfully. This study will be completed in collaboration with patients, healthcare providers and health system leaders. We will look at health system indicators such as length of stay and hospital costs to determine the model's effectiveness in practice. Furthermore, by engaging in open conversations through interviews, we will have the opportunity to explore the experience of families, health care providers and health system leaders. This will provide valuable information on how to use this model of care, improving its success and uptake in health care facilities across Nova Scotia. Findings from this study will be important to improve patient health outcomes [such as patient experience], health care provider satisfaction and health system outcomes [such as decreasing length of hospital stay].