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Needs of Parents and Neonates in the Intensive Care Unit: A Literature Review
1Clinical Nursing Research Center, Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York.
Insights
Caring for infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) requires addressing complex parental and infant needs. Supporting parental well-being and involvement is crucial for positive NICU outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Parental mental health
- Family-centered care
Background:
- Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) present unique challenges for infants and parents.
- Understanding parental and neonatal needs is vital for optimizing care and relationships.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize research on parental and neonatal needs in the NICU.
- To identify key areas for support and intervention.
Main Methods:
- A nonsystematic literature review of 123 articles from 2011-2022.
- Searches conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, and PsycINFO using "neonatal intensive care" and "parental needs."
Main Results:
- Seven categories of parental needs identified: psychosocial, practical, involvement, relationships, information, spiritual, and support with responsibilities.
- Four key neonatal needs highlighted: parental involvement, skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding, and reduced length of stay.
- Parental anxiety and depression are prevalent; parental involvement is critical for both parent and infant well-being.
Conclusions:
- Parental and neonatal needs in the NICU are interconnected.
- Hospital policies, community resources, and socioeconomic status influence need fulfillment.
- Further global research and interventions are needed to improve NICU family outcomes.
Abstract:
The admission of a neonate to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) presents unique and complex needs for both the infant and their parents. This literature review aims to synthesize existing research to comprehensively understand these needs, focusing on parental psychosocial well-being, practical requirements, and the neonate's developmental necessities. Understanding these needs is crucial for optimizing clinical outcomes and fostering healthy parent-infant relationships. A nonsystematic literature review was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and PsycINFO databases. Search criteria focused on "neonatal intensive care" and "parental needs." Articles published in English between 2011 and 2022 were included. The review analyzed 123 articles, primarily focusing on research conducted in Western countries. Parental needs were categorized into seven areas: mental health/psychosocial well-being, practical needs (physical, safety, monetary), parental involvement, relationships (infant, staff, peers), information, spiritual needs, and help with other responsibilities. Neonatal needs included parental involvement, skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding, and reduced length of stay. Key findings highlighted the prevalence of parental anxiety and depression, the importance of practical support, and the critical role of parental involvement in both parent and infant well-being. This review underscores the interconnectedness of parental and neonatal needs within the NICU environment. Parental involvement is essential for both groups, and factors such as hospital policies, community resources, and socioeconomic status significantly influence fulfilling these needs. The limitation of the review indicates the need for more diverse global research. Future studies should address these limitations and explore effective interventions to meet the identified needs, improving outcomes for NICU families. · The review identifies seven key parental needs in the NICU and four neonatal needs.. · It is important to provide support for the well-being of both parents and infants.. · Hospital policies, community resources, and socioeconomic status impact the ability to meet these..
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