Models of Supportive Care for Parents of Infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: A Systematic Review of Their Characteristics and Outcome

Abstract Background: Prematurity is a dire situation for both parents and infants. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) hospitalizations for premature infants increases stress for parents, affecting negatively their emotional well-being. Supportive care models aim to relieve parental stress and improve family outcomes. There are only a few studies in Greece , regarding supportive models for parents with babies hospitalized in NICUS. The new information might improve the development of such supportive models and empower parents. Method: A comprehensive search of databases such as ApaPsychNet, Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar was conducted through 1/4/2025-1/9/2025. The chosen studies focused on various supportive care models and they were included only if they registered interventions, experiences and outcomes related to parental support in the NICUS. Data extraction followed PRISMA guidelines. Results: From the 17 studies that were thoroughly screened, two were of high quality, three of moderate to high quality and eleven studies were of moderate quality. The studies reported 6 possible supportive care models for parents with premature infants, which differed in type: 1) Family Centered Care (FCC), 2) Family Integrated Care (FI Care- AB FI Care) , 3) Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), 4) Peer Support, 5) Psychosocial Interventions with support tools and 6) Specialized Father Support. Conclusions: We identified that supporting care models show great promise in reducing parental stress, increasing parental engagement and parental efficacy and introducing better health outcomes for parents. The need of special health personnel training and the implementation of a homogeneity in support model combined with institutional and organizational alterations in NICUS is considered necessary. Furthermore, the need of consistent supportive programs for fathers with preterm infants is imminent.