BackgroundStudies of parents’ psychological well-being in single-family rooms in neonatal intensive care units have shown conflicting results.AimsTo compare emotional distress in the form of depression, anxiety, stress and attachment scores among parents of very preterm infants cared for in a single-family rooms unit vs an open bay unit.Study designProspective survey design.SubjectParents (132) of 77 infants born at 28 0/7–32 0/7 weeks of gestation in the two units.Outcome measuresDuration of parental presence was recorded. Scores for depression (The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), anxiety (The State–Trait–Anxiety Inventory, Short Form Y), stress (The Parent Stressor Scale: neonatal intensive care unit questionnaire and The Parenting Stress Index—short form) and attachment (Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale) measured 14 days after delivery, at discharge, expected term date and four months post-term.ResultsParents were present 21 hours/day in the single-family room unit vs 7 hours/day in the Open bay unit. Ninety-three percent of the fathers in the single-family rooms unit were present more than 12 hours per day during the first week. Mothers in the single-family rooms had a significantly lower depression score -1.9 (95% CI: -3.6, -0.1) points from birth to four months corrected age compared to mothers in the Open bay unit, and 14% vs 52% scored above a cut-off point considered being at high risk for depression (p<0.005). Both mothers and fathers in the single-family rooms reported significantly lower stress levels during hospitalization. There were no differences between the groups for anxiety, stress or attachment scores after discharge.ConclusionThe lower depression scores by the mothers and lower parental stress scores during hospitalization for both parents supports that single-family rooms care contribute to parents’ psychological wellbeing.

This was a prospective survey study, comparing parent-infant closeness, parents' perceptions of nursing support, and participation in medical rounds in single-family room (SFR) and an open bay (OB) neonatal intensive care units. Nurses' assessments of provided support were also measured. In total, 115 parents of 64 preterm infants less than 35 weeks' gestational age and 129 nurses participated. Parents recorded the presence and skin-to-skin care. Parents were sent 9 text message questions in random order. Nurses answered corresponding Internet-based questions. SFR mothers were more present, 20 hours daily (median) versus 7 hours (P < .001), initiated skin-to-skin contact (SSC) at 4 versus 12 hours (P = .03), and preformed SSC 180 min/24 h versus 120 min/24 h for mothers in the OB unit (P = .02). SFR fathers were also more present, 8 versus 4 hours (P < .001), initiated SSC at 3 versus 40 hours (P = .004), and performed SSC 67 min/24 h versus 31 min/24 h (P = .05). SFR parents rated participation in medical rounds and emotional support higher than OB parents. Parental trust was rated higher by nurses in the OB unit (P = .02). SFR facilitated parent-infant closeness, parents' participation in medical rounds, and increased support from nurses.