Father Groups in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Supportive Intervention

Area of Science:

• Perinatal mental health
• Family-centered care
• Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) interventions

Background:

• Parental participation in the NICU positively impacts infant outcomes and length of stay.
• Healthcare professionals often prioritize mothers and infants, potentially leaving fathers feeling unsupported or overlooked.
• Fathers may experience a lack of recognition and support within the NICU environment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore fathers' experiences with a structured father group intervention during their infant's NICU admission.
• To understand how a dialogue-based intervention with a male healthcare professional influences fathers' perceptions and coping mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative content analysis of 10 online semistructured interviews with fathers in a father group.
• Study adherence to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR).

Main Results:

• The overarching theme identified was "Emotional support, encouragement, and an enhanced capacity to deal with the situation and with life in the NICU."
• Key categories included "Meeting with peers and sharing reflections" and "Fathers' territory," supported by five subcategories.
• Fathers reported increased feelings of recognition and improved ability to manage NICU-related stress.

Conclusions:

• Father group participation validates fathers' roles in the NICU, boosts mental well-being, and strengthens coping abilities.
• Integrating father groups into NICU practices can enhance a family-centered approach and provide essential support for fathers.
• Further research is needed to quantify the impact of father groups on clinical infant outcomes.