Perceived Needs and Current Practices of Family-Centered Care Among Health Care Providers in Korean Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the perception and current practices of family-centered care (FCC) among Korean neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) staff.Methods: This was a cross-sectional nationwide survey. A questionnaire was administered to 264 staff working in Korean NICUs. The Italian version of the Family-Centered Care Questionnaire-Revised for NICU (FCCQ-R@it-NICU) was used to investigate the needs and current practices of FCC.Results: The total mean (±standard deviation) score of the needs dimension was significantly higher that of the current practices dimension (3.91±0.22 vs. 3.32±0.30, p<0.001). The largest difference between needs and current practices was found in the comprehensive support for NICU staff domain (4.07±0.39 vs. 3.04±0.58, p<0.001). The response to the needs dimension showed significant higher scores among medical staff aged 38 years or older (p=0.029), those with parental experience (p=0.010), and those worked in NICUs more than 10 years (p=0.024).Conclusion: Korean NICU medical staff seem to be aware of the need for FCC implementation and recognize that the current state falls short of the ideal FCC. Developing a hospital system and providing sufficient education to medical staff will promote the performance of FCC and contribute to its successful implementation.