Parental perception of pain in premature babies in neonatal intensive care unit: a qualitative study

To examine parents' awareness and perceptions of their premature baby's experience of pain, due to invasive procedures performed during admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Parents of premature babies, who had been admitted to NICU, were recruited from a tertiary hospital in Singapore. Fifteen semi-structured interviews, with individual parents, were conducted. Data were analyzed using a Constructivist Grounded Theory approach including constant comparison and iterative coding. and theoretical sampling.

Eleven mothers and four fathers were interviewed. A central theme of 'Adjustment' was identified with four key aspects: (1) Acknowledging the pain, (2) Seeking assurance, (3) Parental presence, and (4) Learning entrustment.

Attention to parent's needs associated with their perception of neonatal pain, will facilitate the transition to parenthood and support development of parental identity and competence in those with premature infants in NICU.