Parent stress in neonatal intensive care unit: an unattended aspect in medical care

Abstract

Background: The birth of an infant that needs care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be stressful for the parents. The parent-infant bonding process that occurs during the newborn period establishes the foundation for a lifelong relationship. This typical process does not occur when the infant spends the first several weeks or months in the NICU. Quantifying stress levels of parents and identifying the greatest environmental stressor by understanding the aspects of infants, parents and the environment that can cause stress may be useful in assisting the health personnel in understanding their importance and in improving the quality of care. The objective of the study was to quantify stress levels of parents of babies admitted in NICU and compare the sources of stress for mothers and fathers.Methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational, hospital based study where stress levels were assessed using Parental Stressor Scale: neonatal intensive care unit (PSS: NICU) questionnaire among parents of 400 newborn admitted in NICU. Stress was quantified using 5 point Likert scale from 1 (not at all stressful) to 5 (extremely stressful). The overall stress levels were calculated for each subscale and total scale and compared.Results: NICU environment is moderately stressful for both mother and father. The highest score was in the field of Relationship with the baby and parental role for mothers as well as for fathers. Mothers had significantly higher stress scores for each subscale and the total scale compared to fathers.Conclusions: NICU parents are under significant stress and this is need of time to give family centered care.