Impact of family-centered Care on Parenting Role and Sense of Competence in Parents of Preterm Neonates: a quasi-experimental study

Abstract

BackgroundImplementing a family-centered care approach can empower parents to care for their premature infants, positively influencing their sense of competence and parenting role. This study aims to investigate the impact of family-centered care within the context of newborn care on the sense of competence and parenting role of parents with preterm infants who were hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Iran. MethodsThis quasi-experimental study employed a design with two groups in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) located in Kerman, Iran. The research sample consisted of 90 parents. The intervention group received training based on the principles of family-centered care and actively participated in caring for their infants in the intensive care unit. Both groups completed the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale and the Parenting Role Tasks Questionnaire before the intervention, seven days after the intervention, and three months after the intervention. ResultsFollowing the implementation of the family-centered care intervention, the experimental group exhibited a relatively higher increase in the sense of competence score (83.42±6.66) compared to the control group (57.60±9.45). Similarly, the experimental group had a higher mean parenting role score (87.95±6.45) than the control group (54.77±11.80). ConclusionThe study findings suggest that implementing the family-centered care program develops training packages based on the principles of family-centered care for nurses working in neonatal intensive care units. This training will help parents of hospitalized infants enhance their sense of competence and improve their parenting role.