The Effect of Virtual Visitation on Maternal Attachment and Satisfaction Among Mothers With Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract

Background: Recent research has focused on virtual visitation apps to support parents.

Purpose: This study is a randomized, controlled trial designed to determine the effect of virtual visitation applied to mothers with preterm infants hospitalized in the NICU on maternal attachment and satisfaction.

Methods: The research was conducted with sixty-five mothers in the NICU of a hospital in Türkiye. In addition to face-to-face visitation, virtual visitation was applied to the experimental group twice a day until discharge. Only face-to-face visitation was performed in the control group. The Maternal Attachment Inventory (MAI) and EMpowerment of PArents in THe IntensiveCare (EMPATHIC-30) were applied to both groups before and after the intervention.

Results: No significant difference was found in the MAI and EMPATHIC-30 total mean scores between the experimental and control groups (P > .05). However, the MAI values measured in both groups at discharge and one month after discharge were significantly higher than the mean MAI values at the 24th hour postpartum (P < .05). Furthermore, the EMPATHIC-30 total mean score in the experimental group was significantly higher at discharge than at the 24th hour postpartum.

Implications for practice: Virtual visitation did not significantly affect maternal attachment but improved parental satisfaction at discharge, suggesting its role as a supplement to face-to-face interaction. As technology advances, it may become a standard part of NICU care.

Implications for research: Future studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and utility of virtual visitation interventions in clinical settings.