Prenatal intervention program for Japanese first-time fathers to adapt to the paternal role: A mixed methods study

This study aimed to develop a prenatal intervention program focused on the formation of paternal identity for adapting to the paternal role. The intervention program allowed participants to create a postpartum schedule using a uniquely developed paternity portfolio. Pre and postintervention effects were evaluated using a convergent design of mixed methods. This intervention effect was quantitatively evaluated between the two groups. To qualitatively examine the intervention's effects, participants were interviewed for effective prenatal education, and their paternal role behaviors were identified by the intervention. Details of actual postpartum paternal role behavior and effective prenatal education were collected. Obtained data were inductively analyzed and compared with those in the proposed prenatal intervention program. There were 10 pairs in the intervention group and 31 pairs in the control group. Intergroup comparison of evaluation data showed no significant difference. However, qualitative results clarified the effective nursing intervention, confirming the achievement of intervention goals by all participants. Intervention expressions were adjusted based on the results, and a revised prenatal intervention program was developed.