title: Parents' views on care of their very premature babies in neonatal intensive care units: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The admission of a very premature infant to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is often a difficult time for parents. This paper explores parents' views and experiences of the care for their very premature baby on NICU.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents were eligible if they had a baby born before 32 weeks gestation and cared for in a NICU, and spoke English well. 32 mothers and 7 fathers were interviewed to explore their experiences of preterm birth. Although parents' evaluation of care in the NICU was not the aim of these interviews, all parents spoke spontaneously and at length on this topic. Results were analysed using thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, parents were satisfied with the care on the neonatal unit. Three major themes determining satisfaction with neonatal care emerged: 1) parents' involvement; including looking after their own baby, the challenges of expressing breast milk, and easy access to their baby; 2) staff competence and efficiency; including communication, experience and confidence, information and explanation; and 3) interpersonal relationships with staff; including sensitive and emotional support, reassurance and encouragement, feeling like an individual.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Determinants of positive experiences of care were generally consistent with previous research. Specifically, provision of information, support for parents and increasing their involvement in the care of their baby were highlighted by parents as important in their experience of care.
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sawyer
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rabe
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gyte
authors.forename: Lelia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duley
authors.affiliation: Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research, School of Health Sciences, City University London, London EC1R 1UW, UK. Susan.Ayers.1@city.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ayers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012944:Social Support