Designing a family integrative developmental care model for preterm infants in the early postnatal period

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26861915
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Lifelong developmental nursing
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: NAKAI AYA 千葉大学, 大学院看護学研究科, 助教 (30612197)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 早産児 / 発達支援 / Developmental Care / 新生児集中治療室 / 相互作用 / 家族支援 / Preamture birth / Family Integrated Care

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to identify behavioral characteristics observed in dyads of parents and their infant at 33-35 weeks and explore the parental perceptions toward their preterm infants’ behaviors during the same period. Data collection included behavioral observations and interviews. The participants were three couples and their preterm infants were born after 29-30 weeks’ gestation. The three infants were free of neurological anomalies or complications. Qualitative analysis was used to analyze the interview and observational data.
Four themes emerged:Subconscious interactions,Active imagination to understand infant’s needs (thoughts and desires),Development of internal awareness for the new child, and Initiation of purposeful interactions. The findings were compared with established knowledge regarding preterm infants’ stress-coping behaviors, and further integrated into a framework for fostering the self-regulatory functions of preterm infants at a corrected age of 33-35 weeks.

Free Research Field

Neonatal Nursing