An Integrative Review of Fathers' Needs in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Linda Merritt1

  • 1College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, Dallas.

Insights

Fathers of premature infants need to be close to their baby and involved in care. They also require information, emotional support, and a better NICU environment and staff relationships.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
  • Parental Well-being
  • Infant Development

Background:

  • Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission is a stressful event for parents.
  • Mothers and fathers experience NICU admission differently, leading to distinct needs.
  • Understanding fathers' specific needs is crucial for comprehensive family-centered care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct an integrative review to identify the specific needs of fathers whose infants are admitted to the NICU.
  • To synthesize existing research on paternal experiences and requirements in the NICU setting.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of 7 databases.
  • Evaluation of studies using the Critical Appraisal Programme checklist.
  • Application of Whittemore and Knafle and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) methodologies.

Main Results:

  • Fathers need proximity and involvement in their infant's care.
  • Information provision is a key requirement for fathers.
  • Fathers desire an improved NICU environment and emotional support.
  • Establishing a positive relationship with NICU staff is important for fathers.

Conclusions:

  • Fathers of premature infants have distinct needs that must be addressed for optimal family support.
  • Addressing fathers' needs can enhance their engagement in infant care and overall family adjustment.
  • NICU environments and staff interactions should be optimized to meet paternal requirements.

Related Concept Videos

Parental Care00:55

Parental Care

Many animals exhibit parental care behavior, including feeding, grooming, and protecting young offspring. Parental care is universal in mammals and birds, which often have young that are born relatively helpless. Several species of insects and fish, as well as some amphibians, also care for their young.
12.2K
Planning Nursing Care I01:21

Planning Nursing Care I

The planning phase of the nursing process helps nurses set priorities, outline patient-centered goals and expected outcomes, and tailor nursing interventions to align with the aligned care plan. Through the planning phase, the nurse applies critical thinking skills to align and develop interventions according to the patient's needs. It provides continuity of care allowing patients to receive the maximum benefit from treatment. It serves as a pilot plan for allocating individual staff to a...
5.3K
Fetal Circulation01:14

Fetal Circulation

Fetal circulation is a unique system that facilitates the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between the developing fetus and the mother. This intricate process takes place through a special organ called the placenta.
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
1.9K
Nursing Evaluation01:15

Nursing Evaluation

The evaluation stage signals the end of the nursing process. The nurse gathers evaluative data to assess whether or not the patient has attained the expected results. Whereas the nurse collects data in the nursing assessment to identify the patient's health concerns, the evaluation stage data determines if the indicated health issues are resolved. Evaluative data collection includes two sections: the data acquired to evaluate patient outcomes and the time criteria for data collection.
4.0K
Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

Relationship with Parents: Attachment

Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
110
Attachment01:20

Attachment

Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that...
291