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Fathers' needs in a surgical neonatal intensive care unit: Assuring the other parent
Priya Govindaswamy1,2, Sharon M Laing3, Donna Waters2,4
1Grace Centre for Newborn Care, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, Australia.
Insights
Fathers of infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) prioritize reassurance and honest information. Healthcare professionals met over 91% of their most important needs, though fathers desired more recognition of their role.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Pediatric Surgery
- Neonatal Care
Background:
- Fathers' needs in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are under-researched compared to mothers'.
- Understanding fathers' unique needs is crucial for comprehensive family-centered care in surgical NICUs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the specific needs of fathers whose infants underwent surgery for major congenital anomalies in the NICU.
- To evaluate the extent to which healthcare professionals met these identified needs.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study involving 48 fathers of infants admitted for surgery.
- Utilized the Neonatal Family Needs Inventory (5 subscales: Support, Comfort, Information, Proximity, Assurance) at admission and discharge.
Main Results:
- Assurance was the most important need for fathers, particularly regarding honest answers and infant comfort.
- Fathers expressed increased importance on recognition and involvement by discharge.
- Over 91% of fathers reported their top needs were met by healthcare professionals.
Conclusions:
- Reassurance, honest information, and open visiting are key priorities for fathers in a surgical NICU.
- Healthcare providers should acknowledge and validate fathers' roles beyond that of a secondary caregiver.
- Addressing fathers' needs enhances their experience and involvement in their infant's NICU care.
Objectives:
Fathers of infants admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) play an important role and have individual needs that are often not recognised. While there is considerable evidence regarding mothers' needs in the NICU, information about fathers' is particularly limited. This study identifies the needs of fathers of newborns admitted to NICU for general surgery of major congenital anomalies, and whether health-care professionals meet these needs.
Methods:
Forty-eight fathers of infants admitted for surgery between February 2014 and September 2015 were enrolled in a prospective cohort study. Fathers completed the Neonatal Family Needs Inventory comprising 56 items in 5 subscales (Support, Comfort, Information, Proximity, Assurance) at admission and discharge and whether these needs were met; as well as the Social Desirability Scale.
Results:
Responses showed Assurance was the most important subscale (M 3.8, SD .26). Having questions answered honestly (M 3.9, SD .20) and knowing staff provide comfort to their infant (M 3.94, SD .24) were fathers' most important needs. By discharge, fathers expressed a greater importance on being recognised and more involved in their infant's care. More than 91% indicated their ten most important needs were met by the NICU health-care professionals, with no significant changes at discharge. Clergical visits (M 2.08, SD 1.21) were least important.
Conclusions:
Reassurance is a priority for fathers of neonates in a surgical NICU, particularly regarding infant pain management and comfort. It is important that health-care professionals provide reliable, honest information and open-access visiting. Notably, fathers seek greater recognition of their role in the NICU-beyond being the 'other' parent.
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