Non-Narrative Diaries as Data Collection Tool in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) care
• Parent-infant bonding research
• Family-centered care models

Background:

• Admission to the NICU disrupts typical parent-infant bonding due to separation.
• Non-narrative diaries are structured tools for recording specific information and activities.
• These diaries can support parent-infant closeness and serve as clinical research data collection tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the application of non-narrative diaries within NICU settings.
• To define their formats, content (variables recorded), and who utilizes them (diarists).

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted using Joanna Briggs Institute methodology.
• Searches included PubMed, Embase, Scopus, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and Grey Literature up to March 2025.
• Descriptive and thematic analyses were performed on included studies.

Main Results:

• 18 studies were included, with most (88%) being observational.
• Parents, particularly mothers (33%), were the most frequent diarists (50%).
• Documented variables included parental presence (72.2%), skin-to-skin contact (66.6%), and holding (33.3%).
• Non-narrative diaries collected diverse data on behavioral, emotional, organizational, well-being, and breastfeeding outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Non-narrative diaries are promising, versatile tools for NICU research and family-centered care.
• They offer a practical, low-cost method for documenting parent-infant interactions.
• Future research should prioritize methodological rigor and stakeholder engagement.