Effects of a Community-based Follow-up Program for Parents with Premature Infants on Parenting Stress, Parenting Efficacy, and Coping

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a community-based follow-up program on parenting stress, parenting efficacy, and coping among parents with premature infants. METHODS: A non-equivalent control group pre-post quasi-experimental design was used. This program consisted of structured home visits and self-help group meetings for 6 months. The experimental group (n=29) received visits by an experienced neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse and the control group (n=27) was visited by a visiting nurse. Data were analyzed using the x(2) test, t-test, and analysis of covariance. RESULTS: Parents' coping behavior significantly differed in the experimental group compared to the control group (t=3.14, p=.003). In particular, coping subscale I, for maintaining the family situation (t=2.63, p=.011), and subscale III, for understanding the infant's medical situation (t=4.30, p<.001), showed significant differences in the experimental group. There were no significant between-group differences in parenting stress or parenting efficacy. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that home visits by an experienced NICU nurse provided through a community-based follow-up program were an effective intervention to improve coping behavior among parents with premature infants.