Fathers' perceptions of the NICU experience

Abstract

AimTo describe the experiences of NICU fathers who previously had a premature infant in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after the infant had been discharged. MethodsDuring data analysis of a study on the recollection of NICU fathers' needs who previously had a premature infant in the NICU, the researchers discovered fathers could vividly recall their experiences, even years later. Convenient sampling was used to recruit (N = 28) fathers from three parent support organizations and data was collected by semi-structured interviews via Zoom from January 2020 to June 2020. Interview recordings were transcribed by a transcription company, and then verified, coded, and analyzed using NVivo11 software. ResultsThree themes emerged about their experience: vividly recalling experiences, worries about their significant other, and stressed about work/life balance. ConclusionsNICU fathers can vividly recall their experiences years after infant is discharged. They seek support for coping with this new and stressful experience. Further research is needed to explore how support groups can benefit NICU fathers and how the use of support groups can affect the father's long-term mental health.