Study to Assess the Effect of Nursing Interventions on the Stress Level of Parents of Neonates Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Introduction: A pre-experimental study to assess the effect of nursing interventions on the stress level of parents of neonates admitted to NICU in selected hospital. The primary objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of nursing intervention on parental stress among the parents of neonates admitted to NICU. Methods: The present study was conducted among 30 parents of neonates admitted to NICU in a government hospital of New Delhi. The purposive sampling technique was applied. Parents were assessed for stress level by using PSS: NICU (developed by Miles& Funk et al.). On the first day (within 24 hours of admission) followed by nursing interventions which included an informational session of 40 minutes for one time regarding introduction of NICU, indications for admission to NICU, routine care given by staff nurses and doctors to the neonates admitted to NICU, commonly used equipment’s and disposable items at NICU, general instructions regarding the care of neonate at home or after discharge and danger signs for neonates. On the third day, parents were reassessed for parental stress score by using same PSS: NICU scale. Results: Out of 30 parents 21 were mothers and 9 were fathers. The mean pre-nursing intervention parental stress score of 72.9±12.98 were more than the mean posts nursing intervention parental stress score of 58.7±12.37 with mean difference of 14.2±5.61 which shows the significant reduction in stress level of parents of neonates admitted to NICU. The mean pre-nursing intervention parental stress score for other three subscales of PSS: NICU; ‘sight and sound’ 14±4.37, ‘looks and behavior’ 30.4±9.57, ‘parental role’ 28.5±4.92 was more than the mean post nursing intervention parental stress score for these three subscales; ‘sight and sound’8.6±2.84, ‘looks and behavior’ 24.9±9.03 and ‘Parental role’ 25.1±4.44. These results showed that most leading cause of stress among all three subscales was parental role followed by looks and behavior and sight and sounds. The Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS v.20. Conclusion: Nursing Intervention was effective in reducing the stress level of parents of neonates admitted to NICU.