Post-adoption services provide guidance to adoptive families concerning common and specific circumstances. Despite adoption is a lifelong experience, most of the post-adoption resources are oriented towards children, adolescents and their adoptive parents. However, it is also necessary to focus on the demands and interventions with adult adoptees. The aim of this article is to review adult adoptees’ demands for post-adoption resources, applicants’ characteristics and resources offered to them. A systematic search was conducted in several databases, finding forty studies that fulfilled the selection criteria (about adults, domestic/international adoptions and published between 2005 and 2018). The included studies showed mainly three needs: contact with birth family, ethnic identity and birth culture, and psychological support. Additionally, adoptees who demand post-adoption resources are a heterogeneous group. This review collects structured programmes focused on different topics: search for origins, attachment development and professionals’ training in adoption. In addition, we also found some specific post-adoption services and other tools, such as support groups or cultural events. Finally, adoptees also have access to other resources that are not specifically for them, such as mental health services. The scarce existence of evidence-based interventions is an important weakness in this work. Recommendations for future research and practice are included.

This study examines the association between nurses’ perception of caring and attitudes toward caring for dying patients in end-of-life care units. We used a descriptive cross-sectional design with convenience sampling. Data were collected from May to June 2021 through self-reported questionnaires from 303 Spanish nurses (mean age = 48 years, 78.9% female). Participants completed the Caring Dimension Inventory (CDI-25) and the Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying scale. Demographic and training information were collected. Data were analyzed using Stata 16.0. Attitudes toward Care of the Dying Patient were significantly higher in nurses with palliative care training (β = 2.829, p = 0.018) and those who scored higher on the psychosocial (β = 0.789, p = 0.0001) and technical dimensions (β = 0.487, p = 0.011) of the CDI-25. Multivariate analysis identified the psychosocial dimension of the CDI-25 scale (β = 0.783, p = 0.0001) and palliative care training (β = 2.686, p = 0.017) as the only significant variables associated with Attitudes toward Care of the Dying Patient. Overall, nurses exhibited a positive attitude toward caring for dying patients. Our results could potentially help nursing directors identify those with the necessary qualities and training for optimal end-of-life care and to further plan training courses to provide optimal care in end-of-life situations.

The purpose of this study is to define the impact of early brain growth trajectory in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) on neurological prognosis at 2 years, assessed using sequential ultrasound (US) scans. This is a prospective cohort study with consecutive inclusion of VLBWI ≤ 32 weeks gestational age and ≤ 1500 g at birth. Total brain volume (TBV) was assessed using sequential 3D-US from birth to discharge. Prognosis at 2 years (corrected age) was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Third Edition. TBV showed slower growth with postmenstrual age (PMA) in those VLBWI who had an adverse cognitive prognosis compared to those with good cognitive prognosis (mean difference in TBV between prognostic groups from 4.56 cm³ at 28 weeks to 42.58 cm³ at 43 weeks) as well as in those with adverse language prognosis (mean difference in TBV from 2.21 cm³ at 28 weeks to 26.98 cm³ at 43 weeks) although other variables showed more impact than TBV on language prognosis (gestational age at birth, brain injury at term, and socioeconomic status). No association was found between TBV and motor prognosis. Brain growth rate was also significantly higher in those VLBWI who presented good cognitive scores (18.78 + (0.33 × (PMA-33)) cm³/week) compared to those with adverse cognitive outcome (13.73 + (0.64 × (PMA-33)) cm³/week).  Conclusion: Early altered brain growth is associated with poor cognitive prognosis at 2 years of age. Using sequential US monitoring, we can detect early brain growth deviation in patients who will have adverse cognitive outcomes. What is known:• The prediction of neurodevelopmental outcome of VLBWI is mostly based on the presence of brain injury in US and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at term. • Some studies have related brain volume measured on MRI at term with neurodevelopment outcome. What is new:• VLBWI with adverse cognitive prognosis at two years of age present smaller brain volumes detectable by sequential US during NICU admission.• Brain volume can be estimated from 2D and 3D US and has prognostic value in VLBWI.

Objective: The goal was to analyze parental competences in Spanish families with very‐low‐birth‐weight infants (≤32 weeks and/or less 1500 g) over 18 months of corrected age.Background: Parenting in families of very preterm infants is an interesting focus of research as we advance in the knowledge of how parental competences can have an important impact on child development.Method: Sixty‐eight mothers and 56 fathers completed measures of parental competences, sociofamily risk, parental stress, social support, and emotional symptoms. Clinical characteristics and neonatal medical risk data were collected after birth. Statistical analyses were performed to compare parental competences with those of mothers and fathers of non‐preterm infants. Generalized estimating equations were used for analysis, adjusted by family unit.Results: Mothers and fathers of preterm infants score higher in most dimensions of parental competences compared to a control group. Focusing on the preterm population, mothers score higher than fathers in daily involvement and mentalization and lower in parental self‐care. When studied separately, we found different scores for fathers and mothers in parental competences (sociofamily risk, parental stress, social support, and emotional symptoms).Conclusion: Parents of preterm infants present better parental competences than parents of non‐preterm infants when their children reach 18 months of age. It is important to consider the differences in parental competences between the mothers and fathers of these children.Implications: Our findings suggest the need to address parental competences to develop preventive and adaptive strategies in parents of preterm infants to promote positive parenting.