Healthcare processes for parent participation in neonatal intensive care units: A self-determination theory perspective

Abstract

This research explores parents’ experiences in the NICU to inform design and implementation of processes that motivate and direct parent participation in healthcare processes for their children. Qualitative methods were employed combining elements of grounded theory and phenomenology. Findings reveal that despite known benefits, parent participation does not always occur in NICUs due to difficulties NICUs face while balancing technologically complex care that increases survival rates with parent-participation models that provides holistic wellbeing. Self-determination theory provides a work design perspective that can guide design and implementation of parent participation, as partial employees, as a key component of NICU healthcare processes.