Effects of family-centered care on bonding: A systematic review

Nesibe S Kutahyalioglu1, Katherine N Scafide2

  • 1Fazil Boyner Faculty of Health Sciences, Kastamonu University, Kastamonu, Karabuk, Turkey.

Most critically ill neonates require constant monitoring, continuous care, and supervision. However, distance created by admission and prolonged stay in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may contribute to a delay in parent-infant bonding. This review aimed to determine how family-centered care (FCC) in the NICU affects parental bonding with critically ill infants. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used to perform a systematic search of the literature within the following four electronic databases: Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The search was conducted through July/August 2020. Research quality was evaluated using the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Grading Scale. Out of 816 articles identified through literature search, 16 of the studies met our inclusion criteria. The majority of the studies (n = 14) found FCC interventions resulted in a significant increase in parental bonding. Results showed evidence practicing FCC in the NICU setting supports early parent-infant bonding. Nurses should consider implementing evidence-based FCC strategies into practice, such as allowing parents unrestricted access to their infants. More rigorous research with larger samples is recommended. More studies are also needed focusing on father-infant dyads and mother-father-infant triads.

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