Parents' experiences of family-centred care in neonatal intensive care units: A qualitative thematic synthesis

Family-centred care (FCC) in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) emphasizes parents' crucial role in their infant's care. However, various aspects of the NICU environment—such as physical design, workflow, organizational culture, and staff experience—can pose challenges to its effective implementation. Understanding parents' lived experiences is essential for identifying barriers to FCC and uncovering opportunities for improvement. This study aims to explore parents' perceptions and perceived needs regarding their involvement in their infant's care in NICUs. The authors conducted a comprehensive systematic literature review using five electronic databases. We identified primary studies using CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and MIDIRS. The team assessed the full-text papers included in the review for quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist (JBI). We completed the literature search on the February 6, 2024. We included 17 relevant studies in this review. Our analysis identified four main themes related to family-centred care challenges and/or facilitators: Parental Mental Health, Staff-Parent Partnership, Informational Needs, and the NICU Environment. These themes highlight critical factors that impact the implementation and effectiveness of family-centred care in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). This review identified key challenges and facilitators in delivering family-centred care in NICUs and provided initial recommendations for improving practice. While FCC challenges and facilitators exist worldwide, their impact on practice may vary depending on cultural beliefs and healthcare systems. However, addressing informational needs, enhancing staff-parent collaboration, and supporting parental mental health present both challenges and opportunities for improving FCC .