Parents' Views on Family Care at a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit - A Qualitative Study

The current study aims to explore parents' views on family care at a neonatal intensive care unit.

We conducted a qualitative exploratory study with a descriptive approach based on open-ended written narrative responses from the Danish version of EMpowerment of PArents in The Intensive Care-Neonatology questionnaire. The study was conducted at a Danish level IV NICU working with family-centred care and family integrated care. The data was analysed using inductive content analysis by Graneheim and Lundman. The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist was followed.

In total, 311/727 parents responded to the distributed questionnaire. Of those, 210 responded to the open-ended questions. While general expressions of satisfaction and praise were noted, the qualitative analysis focused on responses that included more elaborated comments. We generated two themes, Challenges in communication and recognition in NICU care and Balancing family needs and support systems in NICU. Communication with nurses and physicians included both positive experiences and areas for improvement, with some parents experiencing confusion and insecurity. Emotional support, privacy and the opportunity for bonding were often overlooked, leaving parents feeling excluded from the care process. Parents reported a lack of individualized care that considered their unique needs as a family.

The findings underscore the need for improved communication, better parental involvement in care decisions, and more attention to emotional and relational support. Addressing these areas could enhance the overall neonatal experience and the needs of infants and their families, ultimately improving care quality and satisfaction.