Effects of single-family rooms on nurse-parent and nurse-infant interaction in neonatal intensive care unit

Background: Single-family rooms in neonatal intensive care unit can provide longer interaction between family and staff. On the other hand, separation in private rooms has been shown detrimental to child development if parents are not present. Aims: To examine the effects of single-family rooms on nurse-family, nurse-parent and nurse-infant interaction time in neonatal intensive care unit. Study design: A quantitative, comparative, observational study was conducted before and after a move to a neonatal intensive care unit with single-family rooms. A total of 194 observation hours were conducted before the move and 194 h after the move. The differences were analyzed using a hierarchical linear mixed model. Subjects: Nurses working in one neonatal intensive care unit were recruited to study. Outcome measures: The duration and number of nurse-parent and nurse-infant interaction episodes were recorded. Results: The nurse-family and the nurse-parent interaction were longer in the unit with single-family rooms compared with the unit before the move (mean 261 vs. 138 min per shift, p < 0.0001 and 117 vs. 35, p = 0.001, respectively). The duration of the nurse-infant interaction did not change after the move. The frequency of the nurse-parent or the nurse-infant interactions did not change between the time periods. Conclusions: Neonatal intensive care unit with single-family rooms supported an increase in nurse-parent interaction time. Importantly, nurse-infant interaction time did not decrease. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.