Exploring the impact of a Dual-Occupancy NICU design on parental experience

A comparative observational study was undertaken to compare the impact of Open-Bay and Dual-Occupancy Intensive Care Unit (NICU) design on parent activities and evaluate their perceptions of both designs. Study methods included: a parent activity study, parent feedback surveys comparing physical environments, and parental involvement. Post transition parent interviews (n = 10) were conducted to gain a deeper insight into families' experiences in the Dual-Occupancy NICU. Results showed parents spent significantly more minutes per day [24 h] participating in their infant's care in the Dual-Occupancy NICU when compared to Open-Bay (359.40, 228.70, p < 0.01; respectively); similarly, increased participation was recorded in the Dual-Occupancy Special Care Nursery (SCN) when compared to the Open-Bay SCN (295.20, 231.90, p < 0.01: respectively). Parents perceived Dual-Occupancy design created “a home away from home” facilitating parental involvement in Kangaroo Care and breast feeding, where they could attend to their infant's care with minimal interruptions and privacy.