Symptoms of depression in parents after discharge from NICU associated with family‐centred care

AIMS: The aim of this study was to examine the potential association of family‐centred care as perceived by parents during a NICU stay with parents’ depressive symptoms at discharge and at 4 months corrected for infant age. DESIGN: A longitudinal, multicentre cohort study was conducted from 2018 to 2020 in 23 NICUs across 15 countries. METHODS: Parents (n = 635 mothers, n = 466, fathers) of infants (n = 739) born before 35 weeks of gestation and admitted to the participating NICUs were enrolled to the study during the first weeks of their infants’ hospitalizations. They responded to Digi‐FCC daily text messages inquiring about their perception of family‐centred care provided by NICU staff. In addition, they completed a questionnaire assessing their overall perception of family‐centred care at discharge. Parents’ depressive symptoms were measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at discharge and again after discharge when their infants were at 4 months corrected for age. RESULTS: The mothers’ and the fathers’ perceptions of family‐centred care were associated with their depressive symptoms at discharge and at 4 months corrected age, controlling for gestational age, multiple birth, parent education and relationship status. Parents’ participation in infant care, care‐related decisions and emotional support provided to parents by staff explained the variation in the parents’ perceptions of family‐centred care. The factors facilitating the implementation of family‐centred care included unlimited access to the unit for the parents and for their significant others, as well as amenities for parents. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that family‐centred NICU care associates with parents’ depressive symptoms after a NICU stay. IMPACT: Depression is common in parents of preterm infants. The provision of family‐centred care may protect the mental well‐being of parents of preterm infants.