title: Supporting-emotional needs of Iranian parents with premature infants admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Having an infant in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a stressful and painful experience. Unlike to normal births, this birth is associated with admission and separation of infant from parents. The aim of this study was to compile the supporting-emotional needs of Iranian parents who have a premature infant admitted in (NICU).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed using qualitative research approach. Twelve participants including 9 parents whose infant had been hospitalized in NICU; two nurses and one physician were also selected for sampling purposes. Data were gathered using semi-structured interview. Data were analyzed by inductive content analysis approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four subcategories emerged from data analysis expressed supporting-emotional needs of parents of premature infants admitted in NICU. These subcategories were: Need for interaction with infant, Need to medical team's empathy, need to exchange support with spouse, and Need to get help from others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In order to develop mutual bonding with infant and attain parental roles, parents need to be close their neonate, also receive empathy and support to find a way to meet their needs. Participants in this study announced that resolving these needs can help parents to feel more confidence in infant's care and reduce their negative feelings.
authors.affiliation: 1. Faculty member, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. faral9851@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Faranak
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aliabadi
authors.affiliation: 2. Associated Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Management, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. kamali.mo@iums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamali
authors.affiliation: 3. Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. l.borimnejad@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Leili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borimnejad
authors.affiliation: 4. Associated Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. mrassafiani@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rassafiani
authors.affiliation: 5. MSc of Occupational Therapy. m.rasti.ot@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rasti
authors.affiliation: 6. Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. narges7@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Narges
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shafaroodi
authors.affiliation: 7. Full Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. frafii@iums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Foroogh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rafii
authors.affiliation: 8. PhD candidate, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. askary_ot@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Reihaneh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Askary Kachoosangy
keywords: Content; Emotions; Neonatal intensive care unit; Parents; Premature infant