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Description
Background: Premature birth and serious neonatal conditions frequently require infants to obtain care in the NICU, producing psychological and emotional obstacles for families. Despite the fact that skin-to-skin contact has been extensively researched for its strengths in encouraging stability and bonding, there persists restricted importance and understanding on paternal participation in routine caregiving tasks such as feeding, diapering, temperature checks, and swaddling. Purpose: This study aims to evaluate paternal participation in daily NICU caregiving tasks to address gaps in comprehending how these experiences impact bonding and emotional well-being among fathers of hospitalized infants. Methods: This study will employ a quasi-experimental design conducted across two NICUs to assess how paternal engagement in daily caregiving activities affects attachment and emotional well-being among fathers of hospitalized infants. A total of 100 fathers will be randomly allocated to either an organized caregiving group or a standard care group with a lack of caregiving opportunities. Data will be retrieved through validated instruments including the Paternal Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS:NICU), the Paternal Postnatal Attachment Scale (PPAS), and a brief Confidence in Caregiving Questionnaire. Statistical evaluation will incorporate independent t-tests and continuous measures utilizing analysis of variance to compare changes in bonding, confidence, and stress between groups over a period of time. Results: It is anticipated that fathers in the organized caregiving group will display higher bonding and confidence scores and reduced stress levels compared to those receiving routine care. Conclusion: This study acknowledges a substantial gap in neonatal nursing research by exploring the impact of paternal caregiving engagement on emotional well-being, confidence, and father-infant connection. The findings may provide evidence-based techniques that encourage nurses to promote paternal engagement as a crucial element of family-based care.
Department
Nursing
Faculty Mentor(s)
Andrea Boyle PhD, FNAP, ANP
Publication Date
Winter 2025
Sponsorship/Conference/Institution
Dominican University of California
City
San Rafael, CA
Keywords
Keywords: paternal involvement, neonatal intensive care unit, father-infant bonding, emotional well-being, caregiving confidence, family-based nursing.
Disciplines
Family Practice Nursing | Maternal, Child Health and Neonatal Nursing | Nursing