Child Health Nursing Research

Korean Academy of Child Health Nursing (한국아동간호학회)
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Correlations between a Flexible Parental Visiting Environment and Parental Stress in Neonatal Intensive Care Units

신생아집중치료실 미숙아 부모의 자율면회 방문 현황과 부모 스트레스와의 상관관계

  • Lee, Su Jin (College of Nursing, Yonsei University.Samsung Medical Center) ;
  • Choi, Eun Kyoung (College of Nursing.Mo-Im Kim Nursing Research Institute, Yonsei University) ;
  • Park, Jeongok (College of Nursing.Mo-Im Kim Nursing Research Institute, Yonsei University) ;
  • Kim, Hee Soon (Korean Accreditation Board of Nursing Education)
  • 이수진 (연세대학교 간호대학.삼성서울병원) ;
  • 최은경 (연세대학교 간호대학.김모임간호학연구소) ;
  • 박정옥 (연세대학교 간호대학.김모임간호학연구소) ;
  • 김희순 (한국간호교육평가원)
  • Received : 2019.02.10
  • Accepted : 2019.03.27
  • Published : 2019.10.31
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Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between a flexible parental visiting environment and parental stress in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Methods: The study participants included 60 parents of premature infants in NICUs. Structured questionnaires and interviews, as well as observations by researchers using a caregiving behavior checklist, were used to measure the flexibility of the parental visiting environment and parents' stress levels. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected concurrently and were initially analyzed as separate data sets. Data collection extended from March 11, 2018 to June 30. 2018 and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: There was a negative correlation (r=-.30, p=.021) between parental stress and the total number of visits in 7 days. We also found that the average duration of each visit and the number of caregiving behaviors performed by parents were positively correlated (r=.73, p<.001). Conclusion: When designing a flexible visiting environment for parents, parents should be encouraged to visit their babies. By doing so, stress can be reduced both for babies and for parents. Therefore, it is suggested that the related polices and regulations in South Korea should be changed to provide more a flexible visiting environment to promote better parent-child attachment and family adjustment.

Keywords

References

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