Developing the supportive care bundle for mothers of infants hospitalised in the neonatal intensive care unit: protocol for a multimethod study.

INTRODUCTION

Neonatal admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) represents an acute crisis for the family, particularly for the mother. During this period, mothers face a broad spectrum of care-related, emotional, informational and supportive needs; when these needs are not adequately addressed, serious negative consequences for maternal mental health and the mother–infant bond may ensue. Despite the significance of this issue, a comprehensive and culturally adapted care bundle for this population remains notably absent within Iran's healthcare system. The present study aims to develop and validate an evidence-based supportive care bundle for mothers of infants admitted to the NICU.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a health systems research study to be conducted in four sequential phases: phase I, a qualitative study employing a conventional content analysis approach to explore the experiences and needs of mothers, nurses and caregivers; phase II, a scoping review guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute framework; phase III, integration of findings using the Pillar Integration Process (PIP) to draft the care bundle; and phase IV, a modified classic Delphi study involving 10–15 specialists for validation and prioritisation of the bundle components.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study originates from a doctoral dissertation in nursing, and ethical approval has been obtained from the Ethics Committee of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals and presentations at national and international conferences.