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Updated: Jan 23, 2026
Hemodynamic Precision in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography
Published on: January 27, 2023
Cross-sectional survey of factors associated with paternal involvement in the neonatal intensive care unit
Gina Clarkson1, Mary Jo Gilmer1, Elizabeth Moore1
1School of Nursing, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
Insights
Fathers
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) care
- Paternal involvement research
- Child development studies
Background:
- Infant outcomes improve with father involvement, including cognitive development and sleep patterns.
- Preterm infants benefit significantly from engaged fathers, showing enhanced cognitive development.
- Father engagement is crucial for infant well-being, particularly in critical care settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors influencing father involvement in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
- To utilize the Heuristic model of parental behavior dynamics to understand father engagement.
- To provide insights for improving support systems for fathers in NICUs.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional exploratory study employing survey methodology.
- Survey administered to 80 biological fathers of infants in a 97-bed NICU in the southern USA.
- Data collected on father involvement and influencing factors, guided by STROBE checklist.
Main Results:
- More involved fathers were younger, married/cohabiting, performed kangaroo care, or had multiple gestation infants.
- Fathers attending delivery were more likely to bathe infants; kangaroo care increased father confidence.
- Higher visit frequency correlated with younger fathers, shorter infant hospitalization, lower acuity, and fewer children.
Conclusions:
- Fathers actively engage with their infants in the NICU through various means.
- Specific factors identified can impact the level of father involvement in the NICU.
- Findings support nurses in facilitating father-infant interaction and advocating for supportive policies.
Aim And Objective:
To describe factors associated with father involvement in the neonatal intensive care unit using the Heuristic model of the dynamic of parental behaviour and influence on children over time.
Background:
Research shows that infants with involved fathers have better cognitive development, fewer crying episodes after caesarean birth, improved breastfeeding exclusivity and duration, and more regular sleep patterns. Preterm infants with involved fathers have improved cognitive development.
Design:
This cross-sectional exploratory study used survey methodology to explore factors associated with father involvement in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Methods:
The STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies was used (see Appendix S2). Biological fathers of infants in a 97-bed neonatal intensive care unit in the southern USA completed a survey which asked about their involvement with their hospitalised infants and factors which affected that involvement. Eighty fathers completed the survey.
Results:
Age ranged between 20-53 with 43% first-time fathers. Compared to less involved fathers, fathers who were more involved were younger, married or living with the mother, performed kangaroo care or fathers of multiple gestation. Fathers who had attended the delivery were more likely to bathe their infants than those who had not attended the delivery and fathers who performed kangaroo care felt more confident than those who did not. Compared to fathers who visited less often, fathers who visited more often were younger, had infants with a shorter hospitalisation time and lower acuity, and had fewer children in the family.
Conclusions:
Fathers are involved with their neonatal intensive care unit infants in many ways. Factors were identified that affect involvement in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Relevance To Clinical Practice:
Results can help nurses in neonatal intensive care units worldwide facilitate father-infant interaction, identify fathers at risk for decreased involvement and advocate for institutional policy development for supporting neonatal intensive care unit father involvement.
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