Analysis of care needs for primary caregivers of premature infants at home based on the Kano model: A cross-sectional study

Objective This study applied the Kano model to analyze the attributes of care needs among primary caregivers of discharged premature infants(up to 6 months post discharge), identify priority needs, and provide a foundation for developing targeted nursing service plans. Methods Between November 2024 and January 2025, a cross-sectional survey was conducted using convenience sampling. Primary caregivers of premature infants discharged within the previous six months from a Grade A tertiary hospital in Hubei Province were recruited. A self-designed questionnaire based on the Kano model was administered to evaluate the attributes and priorities of caregivers’ needs. The questionnaire consisted of 27 care-need items. Kano attribute classification used the Maximum Frequency Method, and needs were prioritized using Better–Worse coefficients and the Average Satisfaction Coefficient (ASC). Results A total of 201 valid questionnaires were collected. Analysis using the Kano model revealed that, among the 27 care needs, three were classified as “Must-be attributes” (related to infant feeding), six as “One-dimensional attributes” (related to health issues of premature infants), and 18 as “Attractive attributes.”. Conclusion The care needs of primary caregivers of premature infants at home are generally high, with survival needs being the most urgent. Targeted support should be provided based on the priority of needs and attributes to optimize home care services and improve both the quality of care and health outcomes of premature infants.