title: Pilot study of experiences and needs of 111 fathers of very low birth weight infants in a neonatal intensive care unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the experiences and needs of the fathers of very low birth weight (VLBW, <1500 g) infants in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
  
  
  METHODS
  An anonymous self-report questionnaire was administered to fathers of VLBW infants born between Jan 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009 at two tertiary NICUs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 111 of 273 fathers responded to the questionnaire. Responses to a variety of items, including self-perception, parenting attitudes, confidence, emotional pressure to satisfaction and self-efficacy as a parent were similar for the fathers of this survey and previous results for mothers of VLBW infants. Fathers judged direct bedside support by the NICU team as sufficient. However, 54.4% of fathers reported missing nonbedside interventions such as VLBW father-specific baby care courses, seminars or workshops, and platforms or chatrooms on the internet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bedside support of fathers, accomplished by the NICU team, could be complemented by additional father-specific non-bedside support, such as peer-education measures or interactive mass media.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Charité University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany. lars.garten@charite.de
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garten
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nazary
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Metze
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bührer
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001604:Berlin; D005220:Fathers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006306:Health Surveys; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000523:psychology*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult