Developing a Family-Centered Care Model in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): A New Vision to Manage Healthcare

Abstract

Family-centered care (FCC) currently takes a greater role in health care, due to the increasing empowerment parents experience. Within neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), family participation has an impact on the humanized care of the preterm newborn (PN). This integrative review conducted according to Whittemore and Knafl investigated current knowledge of the FCC model and its application in PN care in specific units. The data were collected from PubMed, Cochrane, CINHAL, Scopus, and Google Scholar. A total of 45 articles were used, of which 13 were selected which met inclusion criteria. Their methodological quality was evaluated using the mixed method appraisal tool (MMAT), and after they were analyzed and grouped into four thematic blocks: (1) parental participation; (2) health parental training; (3) benefits of family empowerment; and (4) humanized care. The results revealed that FCCs promote the integration of health equipment and family. In addition, parents become the primary caregivers. The benefits of the family–PN binomial enable an earlier hospital discharge. Humanized care involves an ethical approach, improving health care. Changes are still needed by health managers to adapt health services to the needs of the family and PNs.