title: Effects of single-family rooms on nurse-parent and nurse-infant interaction in neonatal intensive care unit.
abstract: Single-family rooms in neonatal intensive care unit can provide longer interaction between family and staff. On the other hand, separation in private rooms has been shown detrimental to child development if parents are not present.
  
  
  
  To examine the effects of single-family rooms on nurse-family, nurse-parent and nurse-infant interaction time in neonatal intensive care unit.
  
  
  
  A quantitative, comparative, observational study was conducted before and after a move to a neonatal intensive care unit with single-family rooms. A total of 194 observation hours were conducted before the move and 194h after the move. The differences were analyzed using a hierarchical linear mixed model.
  
  
  
  Nurses working in one neonatal intensive care unit were recruited to study.
  
  
  
  The duration and number of nurse-parent and nurse-infant interaction episodes were recorded.
  
  
  
  The nurse-family and the nurse-parent interaction were longer in the unit with single-family rooms compared with the unit before the move (mean 261 vs. 138min per shift, p<0.0001 and 117 vs. 35, p=0.001, respectively). The duration of the nurse-infant interaction did not change after the move. The frequency of the nurse-parent or the nurse-infant interactions did not change between the time periods.
  
  
  
  Neonatal intensive care unit with single-family rooms supported an increase in nurse-parent interaction time. Importantly, nurse-infant interaction time did not decrease.
authors.affiliation: University of Turku, Department of Nursing Science, Finland. Electronic address: mijotoi@utu.fi.
authors.forename: Mirka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toivonen
authors.affiliation: University of Turku, Faculty of Medicine, Finland; Hospital District of Southwest Finland, Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lehtonen
authors.affiliation: University of Turku, Department of Biostatistics, Finland.
authors.forename: Eliisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Löyttyniemi
authors.affiliation: University of Turku, Department of Nursing Science, Finland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Axelin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D064648:Critical Care Nursing / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000592:standards*; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D000072221:Nurses, Neonatal / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Family centered care; Nurse-infant interaction; Nurse-parent interaction; Single-family room NICU