Effects of family integrated care in neonatal intensive care unit on physical and mental health of premature infants and their mothers

Abstract

Objective To study the effects of family integrated care (FIcare) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) on preterm infants and their mothers′ physical and mental health. Method From Jan 2016 to Dec 2016, preterm infants(birth weight 1 000~ 2 000 g; gestational age 26~34 weeks stabilized in NICU were randomly assigned into two groups: FIcare group and control group. The incidences of major diseases in infants, their mothers′ depression score and anxiety score were studied. Result A total of 40 infants were assigned into two groups respectively. No significant differences existed between the two groups in gender, gestational age, brith weight, age, breastfeeding rate and their mothers′depression score and anxiety score (P>0.05). At discharge, the breastfeeding rate (90.0% vs. 52.5%) and weight gain [(2 258±112) g vs. (2 105±103) g] of the FIcare group were significantly higher than the control group, and the hospital stay duration [(42.0±15.7) d vs. (43.5±14.3) d], hospitalization expenses [(40, 000±18, 000) RMB vs. (44, 000±19, 000) RMB], oxygen therapy duration [(10.4±5.7) d vs. (11.7±7.9) d], CPAP duration [(7.2±4.3) d vs. (8.1±5.0) d], mothers′ depression score [(48.7±3.0) vs. (57.6±2.7)] and anxiety score [(49.4±1.1) vs. (61.1±1.9)]of the FIcare group were significantly lower than the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Family-integrated care is beneficial for the recovery of preterm infants and their mother′ s physical and mental health. Key words: Intensive care units, neonatal; Infant, premature; Family integrated care; Physical and mental health evaluate