Inclusions:

• Expectant parents, and parents and carers of babies aged under 28 days (corrected age) who may or may not be at risk of late-onset neonatal infection
• Parents and carers of babies with suspected or confirmed late-onset neonatal infection
• Health-care professionals with experiences of caring for babies with suspected or confirmed late-onset neonatal infection

Exclusions:

• Parents and carers of babies with suspected or confirmed non-bacterial infections
• Parents and carers of babies with suspected or confirmed syphilis.
• Parents and carers of babies with localised infections.
• Parents and carers of babies with suspected or confirmed bacterial infection resulting from therapeutic interventions such as surgery

• Studies using qualitative methods:

  • Including, semi-structured and structured interviews, focus groups, observations
• Qualitative data from mixed methods studies will be included.
• Data from surveys will not be included
• Qualitative evidence syntheses of above study types

• Themes will be identified from the literature and not pre-specified.
• Relevant themes may include:

  • Preferred format and content of information provision
  • Decision making
  • Information sources other than healthcare professionals (e.g. support groups, online resources)
  • Parent/carer involvement in decision-making
  • Parental/carer anxiety
  • Impact on the baby’s family
  • Delivery of support (e.g. nurse, peer groups)
  • Setting (e.g. community, hospital)
  • Timing of information provision
  • Support following discharge of the baby from hospital

• Non-English language studies
• Evidence from non-OECD countries