Investigation of stress and nursing support in mothers of preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units

Abstract

Background The birth and hospitalisation of a premature infant in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are stressful experiences for the mother and the family. The support of neonatal nurses is necessary to control and reduce the stress of mothers. And nurse–parent support may play a role in effective stress management and make a positive contribution to the health of mothers. Aim To determine the correlation of stress and nurse–parent support levels with mothers’ age and educational status, number of children, gestational week of the infant and the hospitalisation period of the infant among mothers of premature infants hospitalised in the NICU. Methods This descriptive and cross‐sectional study was conducted in the NICUs of two medical faculties. The study was conducted between March and June 2017 with the participation of 106 mothers with hospitalised premature infants. The data of the study were collected using a ‘mother information form’, Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Nurse‐Parent Support Tool. Number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t‐test, analysis of variance test, Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the data. Results It was determined that the stress levels were high in mothers regarding their PSS: NICU parental role subscale. The stress levels of mothers with infants connected to mechanical ventilation and fed parenterally were high (p < 0.05). The nurse support levels of mothers with middle‐ and low‐income status were high. Multiple regression analysis, mechanical ventilation was determined to be effective in the use of the PSS:NICU total score (p < 0.05). Conclusions As a result, it was determined that mechanical ventilation and parenteral nutrition of the infant increased the stress level of mothers. Furthermore, in the study, the Nurse‐Parent Support score of the mothers with middle‐ and low‐income status was higher.

Bebeği Yenidoğan Yoğun Bakım Ünitesinde Tedavi Altında Olan Ebeveynlerin Yaşadıkları Psikososyal Sorunlar ve Başa Çıkma Yöntemlerinin Belirlenmesi: Niteliksel Bir Araştırma

“…Hemşirelerin bebekleriyle ilgili onlara bilgi vermesi, bebeğini göstermesi ve güler yüzlü davranmalarının ebeveynlerde streslerinin azaldığını eve daha huzurlu gittiklerini ifade etmişlerdir. Literatürde ebeveynlerin stresle baş etmesinde hemşire desteğinin ailelere büyük katkı sağladığı bildirilmektedir (25,27,28). En önemli hemşire desteği olarak bebeğin sağlık durumu ile ilgili bilgilendirme olduğu ve bilgilendirmenin annelerin kaygı ve umutsuzluk düzeylerinin azalmasında oldukça etkili olduğu ortaya konmuştur (4, [29][30][31].…”

Experiências maternas na primeira semana de hospitalização do prematuro em cuidado intensivo

“…18 Alguns estudos nacionais [19][20] realizados com pais de RN em UTIN, por meio da aplicação da versão brasileira da Parental Stress Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS: NICU), demonstraram que a alteração no papel de mãe/pai foi a subescala em que se obteve o maior nível de estresse, o que foi também observado em pesquisa realizada na Turquia. 17 Na referida escala, um dos itens mais frequentemente sinalizados foi sentir-se desamparada e incapaz de proteger o RN da dor e de procedimentos dolorosos. 19 Naquele estudo, a subescala "Aparência e o Comportamento do Bebê", foram consideradas situações mais estressantes: "Quando o meu bebê parecia estar sentindo dor" e "Quando meu bebê parecia triste".…”

Nursing Interventions to Reduce Stress in Families of Critical Care Patients: An Integrative Review

“…For the neonatal population, the main stressors reported by the families were the alteration of parenting, 2,3,9,11,37,39-43 the appearance and behavior of the child, 2,3,9,11,14,37,38,[42][43][44]46 the care environment, 11,25,38,42,44,46 and communication with health care staff. 40,44,46 These stressors are linked to the most frequently used measure of parental stress, the Parental Stress Scale (PSS): NICU.…”

“…Other interventions involved fostering communication with parents, 2,3,37,39,40,46 taking into account the stress factors present. 3,11,24,31,42,44 For instance, Akkoyun and Arslan 37 suggested providing support to mothers by giving them information. Finally, other recommended interventions involved encouraging parents to use social support during this experience to enable them to become actively involved as parents.…”