Needs Assessment of Iranian Families with Neonates Hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Background: The neonate's birth and subsequent hospitalization cause families to experience various needs. Identifying the family's needs can lead to the provision of qualitative services and the implementation of family-centered development care (FCDC) by nurses. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the needs of Iranian families with neonates in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in northern Iran in 2018 - 2019 on 360 parents of neonates admitted by convenience sampling method to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Data were collected by demographic questionnaire of parents and neonates and NICU Family Needs Inventory (NFNI) of Ward with five dimensions of proximity, assurance, information, comfort, and support. The data were analyzed using Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients and a t-test by SPSS23 software. Results: The most important dimensions of family needs were proximity to the infant (93.59%), information (90.53%), assurance (89.18%), comfort (86.70%), and support (80.78%). A comparison of the dimensions of the needs of primiparous, multiparous, and term preterm parents indicated that assurance for multiparous parents (P < 0.001) and comfort for parents with term infants (P < 0.02) were significantly higher than the other dimensions. Conclusions: The study found that proximity to infants is the most important dimension of family needs. Therefore, the relevant authorities should take effective measures to ensure parent-infant proximity.