title: Participatory Action Research in the Field of Neonatal Intensive Care: Developing an Intervention to Meet the Fathers' Needs. A Case Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) health care professionals typically give most of their attention to the infants and the mothers while many fathers feel uncertain and have an unmet need for support and guidance. This paper describes and discusses participatory action research (PAR) as a method to improve NICUs' service for fathers. Our goal is to develop a father-friendly NICU where both the needs of fathers and mothers are met using an approach based on PAR that involves fathers, mothers, interdisciplinary healthcare professionals, and managers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This PAR process was carried out from August 2011 to July 2013 and included participant observations, semi-structured interviews, multi sequential interviews, workshops, focus groups, group discussion, and a seminar. The theoretical framework of validity described by Herr and Anderson's three criteria; process-, democratic-, and catalytic validity were used to discuss this PAR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve fathers, 11 mothers, 48 health professionals and managers participated in the PAR process. The collaboration ensured the engagement for viable and constructive local changes to be used in designing the concept of the father friendly NICU.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper contributed new knowledge of how PAR can be used to ensure that participants engaged in the field are involved in the entire process; consequently, this will ensure that the changes are feasible and sustainable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Lillebaelt Hospital; Institute of Regional Health Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark.
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Noergaard
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of User Perspectives, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark.
authors.forename: Helle
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Johannessen
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Lillebaelt Hospital.
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fenger-Gron
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Lillebaelt Hospital; Institute of Regional Health Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark.
authors.forename: Poul-Erik
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Kofoed
authors.affiliation: Institute of Regional Health Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark; Health Services Research Unit, Lillebaelt Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ammentorp
keywords: father; participatory design; patient involvement; quality improvement