INTERVENTIONS FOR SUPPORTING PARENTS OF PRETERM INFANTS IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE NURSING ROLE
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Keywords
Preterm infants, neonatal intensive care unit, nursing interventions, parental support, family-centered care, emotional support, practical support, systematic review
Abstract
Preterm birth poses significant challenges for parents, often leading to heightened stress, anxiety, and uncertainty during their infant's stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Nurses play a pivotal role in providing emotional and practical support to mitigate these effects and enhance parental involvement in care. This systematic review synthesizes evidence on nursing-led interventions aimed at supporting parents of preterm infants in the NICU. A comprehensive search of databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science yielded 25 studies published between 2010 and 2024. Key interventions identified include family-centered care (FCC), kangaroo mother care (KMC), educational programs, spiritual care, telenursing, and parent empowerment initiatives. Meta-analysis of 10 interventional studies demonstrated a significant reduction in parental stress (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.95; 95% CI: -1.45, -0.45; p < 0.001). Findings underscore the effectiveness of these strategies in improving parental confidence, attachment, and participation in infant care, with implications for nursing practice in NICU settings. Limitations include heterogeneity in study designs and focus primarily on mothers.
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