Stressors and Predictive Factors for Parents of Neonates Undergoing Surgery for Congenital Anomalies in the Neonatal Surgical Intensive Care Unit

The neonatal surgical intensive care unit (NSICU) context adds complexity to parental stress due to the urgency of life-saving surgery, prolonged recovery periods, and uncertainty about outcomes.

This study aimed to investigate stress levels and contributing factors among parents of neonates undergoing surgery for congenital anomalies in the NSICU.

This cross-sectional and predictive study was conducted in a tertiary NSICU between 1 May 2023 and 1 May 2024, and included 50 parents. Data were collected from the "Parent and Neonate Information Form" and "Parent Stress Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit." Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS version 29.

The mean score of parents on the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was 123.86 ± 29.85, with the highest mean subscale score being 61.24 ± 18.25 for the "neonate behavior and appearance" subscale. The neonate's diagnosis was related to the mean score of the "sights and sounds" subscale, with parents of neonates who had thoracic surgery having higher mean scores in this subscale. Stress related to the sights and the total number of children and the neonate's diagnosis, explaining 23% of the variance, significantly influenced the sounds subscale. A lower number of children and a diagnosis requiring thoracic surgery were associated with higher levels of stress.

Targeted stress management programs that consider surgery type and the total number of children are crucial. Future research should focus on tailored interventions to reduce stress and improve parental well-being and neonates' recovery.