Effect of Family Integrated Care on maternal stress in preterm infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A bi-center experience

AimTo compare the effect of family integrated care (FICare) on maternal stress in preterm infants with traditional non-parent neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) care. MethodsWe continuously enrolled mothers and their preterm infants from two NICUs between August 2014 and April 2017; while one NICU applied the FICare model (FICare group) and the other performed standard non-parent care model (control group). Maternal stress was evaluated by the Parental Stress Scale: NICU (PSS: NICU) on admission and right before the discharge. A generalized linear model to adjust for potential confounders. Subgroup analysis was also performed for comparisons between two groups. ResultsA total of 215 mothers with preterm infants were included in this study, among whom 118 (54.88%) were in FICare group and 97 (45.12%) were in control group. The mean PSS: NICU score was 117.36 +/- 26.27 on admission with no difference between two groups. Before being discharged home, the PSS: NICU score of parents in both groups was significantly reduced, with the score of FICare group was significantly lower than that of control group. In all sub-domains of PSS: NICU score as sights and sounds, baby looks and behavior score, and parental role, the scores of FICare group were significantly lower than control group. ConclusionsThere was a simultaneous decrease of maternal stress for NICU preterm infants. FICare further facilitates reducing the maternal stress. It shall be encouraged to apply FICare model in NICUs.