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Fathers' lived experiences of caring for their preterm infant at the neonatal unit and in neonatal home care after the introduction of a parental support programme : A phenomenological study

Hemle Jerntorp, Sofia LU ; Sivberg, Bengt LU and Lundqvist, Pia LU (2021) In Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences 35(4). p.1143-1151
Abstract

Aim: To describe fathers’ lived experiences of caring for their preterm infant at the neonatal unit and in hospital-based neonatal home care after the introduction of an individualised parental support programme. Method: Seven fathers from a larger study were included due to their rich narrative interviews about the phenomenon under study. The interviews took place after discharge from neonatal home care. The theoretical perspective was descriptive phenomenology. Giorgi’s outlines for phenomenological analysis were used. Findings. The general structure of the phenomenon was described by the following four themes: The partner was constantly present in the fathers’ minds; The fathers’ were occupied by worries and concerns; The fathers... (More)

Aim: To describe fathers’ lived experiences of caring for their preterm infant at the neonatal unit and in hospital-based neonatal home care after the introduction of an individualised parental support programme. Method: Seven fathers from a larger study were included due to their rich narrative interviews about the phenomenon under study. The interviews took place after discharge from neonatal home care. The theoretical perspective was descriptive phenomenology. Giorgi’s outlines for phenomenological analysis were used. Findings. The general structure of the phenomenon was described by the following four themes: The partner was constantly present in the fathers’ minds; The fathers’ were occupied by worries and concerns; The fathers felt that they were an active partner to the professionals and Getting the opportunity to take responsibility. The fathers were satisfied with the support and treatment during their infant’s hospitalisation. However, there were times when they felt excluded and not fully responsible for their infant. The fathers prioritised the mother, thus ignoring their own needs. Furthermore, they worried about their infant’s health and the alteration of their parental role. Neonatal home care was experienced as a possibility to regain control over family life. Conclusion: The general structure of fathers’ experiences highlights the importance of professionals becoming more responsive to fathers’ needs and to tailoring support to fathers by focusing on their individual experiences and needs.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
experiences, fathers, hospital-based neonatal home care, interviews, NICU, phenomenology, preterm infant
in
Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences
volume
35
issue
4
pages
1143 - 1151
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:33179339
  • scopus:85096639485
ISSN
0283-9318
DOI
10.1111/scs.12930
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8bb9afae-8303-41b7-b8e6-c79932f826a0
date added to LUP
2020-12-08 10:03:05
date last changed
2024-06-27 02:45:59
@article{8bb9afae-8303-41b7-b8e6-c79932f826a0,
  abstract     = {{<p>Aim: To describe fathers’ lived experiences of caring for their preterm infant at the neonatal unit and in hospital-based neonatal home care after the introduction of an individualised parental support programme. Method: Seven fathers from a larger study were included due to their rich narrative interviews about the phenomenon under study. The interviews took place after discharge from neonatal home care. The theoretical perspective was descriptive phenomenology. Giorgi’s outlines for phenomenological analysis were used. Findings. The general structure of the phenomenon was described by the following four themes: The partner was constantly present in the fathers’ minds; The fathers’ were occupied by worries and concerns; The fathers felt that they were an active partner to the professionals and Getting the opportunity to take responsibility. The fathers were satisfied with the support and treatment during their infant’s hospitalisation. However, there were times when they felt excluded and not fully responsible for their infant. The fathers prioritised the mother, thus ignoring their own needs. Furthermore, they worried about their infant’s health and the alteration of their parental role. Neonatal home care was experienced as a possibility to regain control over family life. Conclusion: The general structure of fathers’ experiences highlights the importance of professionals becoming more responsive to fathers’ needs and to tailoring support to fathers by focusing on their individual experiences and needs.</p>}},
  author       = {{Hemle Jerntorp, Sofia and Sivberg, Bengt and Lundqvist, Pia}},
  issn         = {{0283-9318}},
  keywords     = {{experiences; fathers; hospital-based neonatal home care; interviews; NICU; phenomenology; preterm infant}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{1143--1151}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences}},
  title        = {{Fathers' lived experiences of caring for their preterm infant at the neonatal unit and in neonatal home care after the introduction of a parental support programme : A phenomenological study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/scs.12930}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/scs.12930}},
  volume       = {{35}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}