Abstract
Objective: To identify the barriers and facilitators related to home phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia from the perspectives of parents and healthcare professionals. Methods: This integrative review was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases. The following descriptors were applied: “neonatal hyperbilirubinemia”, “hyperbilirubinem”, “jaundice”, “phototherap”, “lighttherap”, “home care”, “home setting”, “parents”, “caregivers”, and “health personnel”. Studies published between 2020 and 2025 that addressed barriers or facilitators to home phototherapy were included. Results: The final sample comprised eight studies. Most investigations were conducted in high-income countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Italy. Qualitative and descriptive designs predominated. Identified barriers included difficulties in device handling, limitations in home-based clinical monitoring, gaps in multiprofessional training, lack of reimbursement mechanisms, and parental insecurity. Facilitators highlighted were family-centered care, home comfort, parental satisfaction, healthcare professionals’ self-efficacy, and reduced hospital burden. Final considerations: Home phototherapy demonstrates significant potential to expand neonatal care, provided that organizational, professional, and parental barriers are addressed through strengthened family support and improved health service structures.
References
ANDERSON CM, et al. Neonatal healthcare providers’ perceptions of the feasibility of home phototherapy in neonatal jaundice. J. Neonat. Nurs., 2023; 29: 568-574.
BARNES S, et al. Effectiveness and family experiences of interventions promoting partnerships between families and pediatric and neonatal intensive care units: a mixed methods systematic review. JBI Evid Synth, 2024; 22(7): 1208-1261.
BATTERSBY C, et al. Term admissions to neonatal units in England: a role for transitional care? A retrospective cohort study. BMJ Open, 2017; 7(5): e016050.
BEAL JA. American Academy of Pediatrics' Updated Clinical Guidelines for Managing Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia. Am J Matern Child Nurs, 2023; 48(1): 49.
BEKKER MN, et al. Home telemonitoring versus hospital care in complicated pregnancies in the Netherlands: a randomised, controlled non-inferiority trial (HoTeL). Lancet Digit Health, 2023; 5(3): e116-e124.
BHUTANI VK, et al. Committee on Fetus and Newborn. American Academy of Pediatrics. Phototherapy to prevent severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn infant 35 or more weeks of gestation. Pediatrics, 2011; 128(4): e1046-52.
BRASIL. Ministério da Saúde (MS). Lei no 9.610, de 19 de fevereiro de 1998, que altera, atualiza e consolida a legislação sobre direitos autorais e dá outras providências. Diário Oficial da União.
CNOSSEN MC, et al. Home phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia: current practices and attitudes. Pediatric Research, 2025; 98: 512-518.
FALKE M. The Basics of Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia. Neonatal Netw, 2025; 44(1): 61-67.
FOOTE EM, et al. Community health worker-led household screening and management of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in rural Bangladesh: a cluster randomized control trial protocol. Gates Open Res, 2024; 7: 58.
JAHAN F, et al. Evaluation of community health worker’s performance at home-based newborn assessment supported by mHealth in rural Bangladesh. BMC Pediatr, 2022; 22: 218.
KATO S, et al. Standardization of phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia using multiple-wavelength irradiance integration. Pediatr Neonatol, 2020; 61(1): 100-105.
KHAJEHEI M, et al. Clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of large-scale midwifery-led, paediatrician-overseen home phototherapy and neonatal jaundice surveillance: a retrospective cohort study. J. Paediatr. Child Health, 2022; 58: 1159-1167.
MCHUGH ML. Interrater reliability: the kappa statistic. Biochemia Medica, 2012; 22(3): 276-82.
MERINO-ANDRÉS J, et al. Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and repercussions on neurodevelopment: A systematic review. Child Care Health Dev, 2025; 50(1): e13183.
MICHAUD TL, et al. Costs of home-based telemedicine programs: a systematic review. Int. J. Technol. Assess. Health Care, 2018; 34(4): 410-418.
MILLER CR, et al. Implementation of a Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia Clinical Pathway in a Pediatric Emergency Department. Pediatr Qual Saf., 2024; 9(6): e774.
NEWMAN TB, et al. Retrospective Cohort Study of Phototherapy and Childhood Cancer in Northern California. Pediatrics, 2016; 137(6).
NOURELDEIN M, et al. Home phototherapy for neonatal jaundice in the UK: a single-centre retrospective service evaluation and parental survey. BMJ Paediatr. Open, 2021; 5: e001027.
OLUSANYA BO, et al. Neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia: a global perspective. Lancet Child Adolesc. Health, 2018; 2(8): 610-620.
PETTERSSON M, et al. Parental experiences of home phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. J. Child Heal Care, 2023; 27(4): 562-573.
OTOME U, et al. Readmission rates before and after the implementation of 2022 revised AAP clinical practice guidelines for the management of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia - a single center study. J Perinatol, 2025.
ROSMAN AN, et al. Patients' and professionals' barriers and facilitators to external cephalic version for breech presentation at term, a qualitative analysis in The Netherlands. Midwifery, 2014; 30(3): 324-330.
SANGI MT, et al. Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of midwife-led care for childbearing women in low- and middle-income countries: A mixed-methods systematic review. Midwifery, 2023; 122: 103696.
SEGERS E, et al. The impact of family centred care interventions in a neonatal or paediatric intensive care unit on parents' satisfaction and length of stay: A systematic review. Intensive Crit Care Nurs, 2019; 50: 63-70.
SOUZA MT, et al. Integrative review: what is it? How to do it? Einstein (Sao Paulo). 2010; 8(1):102-6.
SPAAN J, et al. Barriers and facilitators to implementation of home phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia: Perspectives from healthcare professionals and parents. Midwifery, 2025; 144: 104356.
STILLWELL S, et al. Evidence– based practice: step by step. Am J Nurs, 2010; 110(5): 41-7.
THAKKAR D, et al. Phototherapy at home for the treatment of neonatal jaundice: an innovative, patient centered pilot project. Arch. Dis. Child Fetal Neonatal Ed., 2019; 15(4).
VAN DEN HEUVEL JFM, et al. Home-Based Monitoring and Telemonitoring of Complicated Pregnancies: Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey of Current Practice in the Netherlands. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth, 2020; 8(10): e18966.
VIDAVALUR R, et al. Trends in hospitalizations of newborns with hyperbilirubinemia and kernicterus in United States: an epidemiological study. J. Matern Fetal Neonatal Med, 2022; 35: 7701–7706.
WANG J, et al. Challenges of phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (Review). Exp Ther Med, 2021. 21(3): 231.
ZANARDO V, et al. Pilot study of home phototherapy for neonatal jaundice monitored in maternity ward during the enforced Italy-wide COVID-19 national lockdown. Eur. J. Pediatr., 2022; 181: 3523-3529.
