Thai parents' perspectives on understanding and involvement in non-pharmacological neonatal pain management

While neonatal care units (NCUs) are essential for critical neonatal care, they expose neonates to frequent painful procedures. Despite the benefits of non-pharmacological pain management and family-centered care (FCC), Thai parents' perspectives in alleviating their infants' pain remain under-reported.

To explore Thai parents' perspectives regarding their understanding of and involvement in non-pharmacological pain management strategies.

A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with 12 parents of neonates admitted to two units of university hospital in Southern Thailand between March and April 2025. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

Five major themes emerged: 1) Parents' recognition and interpretation of their baby's pain; 2) Parental coping strategies and involvement in pain alleviation; 3) Gaps in communication and information from healthcare professionals; 4) Preferences for information delivery and suggestions for improvement; and 5) Cultural and religious considerations.

Thai parents demonstrate strong willingness to support their infants' pain relief but face structural, cultural, and informational barriers. Improved communication, culturally sensitive education, and inclusive visitation policies could enhance FCC and empower parents in neonatal pain management.

Standardized communication and culturally tailored education, including materials both Thai and "Ja-Wi", can better equip parents to support neonatal pain management. Revising visitation policies and enhancing staff training can also promote parental involvement and strengthen FCC in Thai NCUs.