The Effect of Fathers' Kangaroo Care Experience of Preterm Babies on Paternal Attachment / 중환자간호학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was intended to standardize the Kangaroo care protocol for fathers, and to determine the effect of fathers' Kangaroo care experience on paternal attachment.METHODS: The data was collected from February to April, 2013. The study subjects were 34 fathers (17 experimental group subjects, 17 control group subjects) of premature babies, bornatatertiaryhospitalinSeoul, who agreed to participate. The standardized Kangaroo care protocol, which consisted of at least three 60-minutes sessions during the hospitalization period in a neonatal intensive care unit, was carried out with the experimental group. The data was analyzed by a χ2-test and Mann-Whitney U test.RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) There were no between-group differences in the general characteristics of babies and their fathers. 2) The Kangaroo care fathers showed higher scores of paternal attachment than the control group (Z=-3.657, p=0.008).CONCLUSION: Fathers who attended the Kangaroo care sessions showed stronger paternal attachment than those who did not. Therefore, use of a Kangaroo care program for fathers of premature babies at neonatal intensive care units is recommended.