How to support fathers of preterm infants in early parenthood - An integrative review
Kristina Garne Holm1, Hanne Aagaard2, Ragnhild Maastrup3
1Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
Insights
Healthcare interventions can support fathers of preterm infants, enhancing father-infant interaction and reducing stress. Tailored support and improved nursing strategies are crucial for paternal well-being in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Paternal psychology
- Family support systems
Background:
- Preterm birth presents unique stressors for fathers, highlighting a need for specialized support.
- Existing healthcare interventions for fathers of preterm infants require evaluation for effectiveness.
- Understanding paternal experiences with these interventions is crucial for optimizing care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence on healthcare interventions for fathers of preterm infants.
- To assess the effectiveness of these interventions.
- To explore fathers' experiences with interventions during early parenthood.
Main Methods:
- An integrative review guided by Whittemore and Knafl's process.
- Comprehensive literature search across multiple databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, etc.).
- Inclusion of 18 qualitative and quantitative studies, appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.
Main Results:
- Skin-to-skin contact significantly supported father-infant interaction.
- Information provision positively impacted paternal stress, anxiety, and fatherhood development.
- Fathers' relationships with nurses varied, ranging from conflict to assistance.
Conclusions:
- Targeted interventions can enhance father-infant bonding and alleviate paternal stress.
- Nurses play a vital role in supporting fathers' engagement in early parenthood.
- Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) should foster a culture supportive of fathers' presence and enhance nursing education for paternal support.
Problem:
Preterm birth is a stressful event. Paternal experiences of having a preterm infant indicate a need for tailored support. However, it is unclear which interventions work best. This review presents the evidence on existing healthcare interventions to support fathers of preterm infants in early parenthood, how effective they are and paternal experiences with the interventions.
Eligibility Criteria:
The integrative review process of Whittemore and Knafl was used to guide the study. A structured and comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science, SweMed+, and Proquest Dissertation & Thesis Global.
Sample:
A total of 18 qualitative and quantitative studies were included in the review. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess quality.
Results:
Three overall themes were identified in the analysis: 1) Skin-to-skin contact supported interaction between infant and father, 2) information impacted paternal experiences of stress, anxiety, and development of fatherhood, 3) fathers' relationships with the nurses oscillated between conflict and assistance.
Conclusions:
Our findings show that targeted interventions could support father-infant interaction and reduce stress among fathers of preterm infants.
Implications:
Fathers of preterm infants rely on nurses to support their engagement in early parenthood, while nurses facilitate the interventions that engage the fathers. It is also essential to develop a culture within the neonatal intensive care unit that encourages the presence of fathers and enhances educational nursing strategies for supporting fathers of preterm infants during early parenthood.
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