The Effect of Kangaroo Care Provided by Fathers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on Paternal Stress and Neonatal Comfort: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND

Fathers of infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) frequently experience high levels of stress and limited involvement in direct infant care. While kangaroo care is well-established for mothers, evidence regarding father-provided kangaroo care and its effects on both paternal stress and neonatal comfort remains limited.

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of kangaroo care provided by fathers on paternal stress levels and neonatal comfort in an NICU setting.

METHODS

This pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted from March to December 2024 in a city hospital NICU in Turkey. The study involved 68 father-infant randomized into intervention (kangaroo care) and control (standard care) groups. Fathers in the intervention group provided kangaroo care for 30 minutes daily over 7 days. Data were collected using the NICU Parental Stress Scale (PSS:NICU) and the Neonatal Comfort Behavior Scale (COMFORTneo). Statistical analyses included the Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests performed in R software (v4.4.1), with significance set at P < .05.

RESULTS

Fathers in the intervention group demonstrated a significant reduction in stress scores (median pretest: 136.5; post-test: 102; P < .001). Neonates who received kangaroo care showed significantly improved comfort scores (median pretest: 27; post-test: 18; P < .001) compared with those receiving standard care.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: Integrating kangaroo care provided by fathers into routine NICU practice is feasible and effective in reducing paternal stress and improving neonatal comfort. Further studies with larger sample sizes and extended follow-up periods are recommended to confirm these findings and assess long-term outcomes.