Abstract
Parental stress in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) significantly impacts family well-being and infant outcomes. Family-Centered Care (FCC) is recognized as a best practice, yet its systematic implementation through standardized educational programs remains underexplored. This cluster randomized controlled trial investigated the effectiveness of a standardized FCC education program on parental stress and satisfaction in NICUs. Eight NICUs were randomized to either receive the FCC education program for their staff and parents (intervention group) or continue with standard care (control group). A total of 320 parents (160 in each group) of infants hospitalized for more than 72 hours were recruited. Parental stress was measured using the Parental Stress Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS:NICU), and satisfaction with care was assessed using the Family Satisfaction in the Intensive Care Unit (FS-NICU) scale, both administered at baseline and two weeks post-intervention. Results indicated a significant reduction in total PSS:NICU scores in the intervention group compared to the control group (mean difference = -8.7; 95% CI [-10.2, -7.1]; p < 0.001). Concurrently, parents in the intervention group reported significantly higher FS-NICU scores for overall satisfaction and specific domains (p < 0.001). These findings underscore the effectiveness of a standardized FCC education program in mitigating parental stress and enhancing satisfaction within the NICU setting, advocating for its widespread implementation to improve family experience and quality of care.
