title: Parental self-support: A study of parents' confront strategy when giving birth to premature infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to understand the confront strategies of parents of premature infants hospitalized in NICU.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed using qualitative content analysis approach. Twelve participants including nine parents whose infants were hospitalized in NICU, two nurses and one physician, all selected by purposive sampling method were interviewed by a female expert occupational therapist. Data were gathered by semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed by inductive content analysis approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One category, six subcategories and twenty one themes emerged from data analysis expressed confront strategies of parents of premature infants admitted in NICU. These categories were: taking assurance, stop thinking to bad things, diverting mind, taking supports, emotional expression, complaining from staff.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Premature infant's parents announced that they do not receive adequate formal support to manage their feelings and needs. So, they seek for other informal resources of support and apply some special strategies including self-support.
authors: 1. PhD in Occupational Therapy, Faculty Member at Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. faral9851@yahoo.com.
authors: Faranak
authors: F
authors: Aliabadi
authors: 2. Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Management, School of Rehabilitation sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. kamali.mo@iums.ac.ir.
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Kamali
authors: 3. Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. l.borimnejad@gmail.com.
authors: Leili
authors: L
authors: Borimnejad
authors: 4. Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. mrassafiani@yahoo.com.
authors: Mehdi
authors: M
authors: Rassafiani
authors: 5. MSc of Occupational Therapy. m.rasti.ot@gmail.com.
authors: Mehdi
authors: M
authors: Rasti
authors: 6. Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. narges7@yahoo.com.
authors: Narges
authors: N
authors: Shafaroodi
authors: 7. Full Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. frafii@tums.ac.ir.
authors: Foroogh
authors: F
authors: Rafii
authors: 8. PhD candidate in Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences,Tehran, Iran . askary_ot@yahoo.com.
authors: Reihaneh
authors: R
authors: Askari Kachoosangi
keywords: Content Analysis; Descriptive; Parents; Premature Infants; Strategies