Implementing modified family integrated care in a US neonatal intensive care unit: nursing perspectives and effects on parents

Objectives(1) Assess effects of a modified Family Integrated Care (FICare) model on U.S. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) parents; (2) Evaluate NICU nurses' perspectives.Design Case -control design with parental stress assessed before and after NICU-wide FICare implementation using Parent Stressor Scale: NICU (PSS:NICU) questionnaire. In addition, stratification by degree of participation evaluated associations with parental stress, parental-staff communication and discharge readiness. Questionnaires captured nursing perspectives on FICare.Results 79 parents (88%) participated prior to FICare; 90 (90%) after. Parent stress was lower (p < 0.001) with FICare. Parents learning 5-15 infant-care skills had lower stress compared to those learning < 5 (p = 0.008). Parent utilization of an educational app was associated with improved communication frequency (p = 0.007) and quality (p = 0.012). Bedside NICU nurses reported multiple positive associations of FICare for parents and staff.Conclusions Any degree of FICare participation decreases parental stress; increased participation has multiple positive associations.

Automated summary

The modified Family Integrated Care (FICare) model in U.S. Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) was evaluated, and it was found that FICare can reduce parental stress, improve communication between parents and staff, and increase discharge readiness.