Background: Fathers play a crucial but often overlooked role during the transition from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to home. Although digital health technologies offer opportunities to provide accessible support, little is known about fathers’ specific preferences for such support during this period. Understanding these preferences is key to developing father-inclusive digital supports that promote confidence, engagement, and family well-being. Method: This qualitative study used inductive content analysis to explore fathers’ preferences for digital support during the NICU-to-home transition. Fathers whose infants had been discharged from the NICU within the past four years were recruited through the P3 Cohort at the University of Calgary. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and focus groups, conducted virtually based on participant preference. Transcripts were analyzed inductively to identify themes regarding fathers’ needs, challenges, and preferred digital features. Rigor was ensured through the development of a clear codebook and coding instructions and supervisory debriefings, consistent with recommended strategies for establishing trustworthiness in qualitative content analysis. The study enabled an in-depth understanding of fathers’ experiences and informed recommendations for developing tailored digital health supports that better support fathers during this critical transition. Findings: Five fathers from the P3 Cohort in Alberta participated in semi-structured interviews. Analysis identified seven key themes reflecting fathers’ preferences for digital support during the NICU-to-home transition: (1) emotional support needs during the transition, (2) preparation for the transition through experiential learning and anticipatory guidance, (3) development of caregiving confidence through preparation and professional guidance, (4) preference for accessible, relevant, and father-inclusive digital supports, (5) digital support as a complement to human and professional care, (6) partners, family, and social networks as key supports, and (7) the need for practical, fast, and easy-to-access support. Fathers described fragmented post-discharge support and reliance on self-directed information seeking, highlighting gaps in continuity of care and the need for centralized, trustworthy, and father-inclusive digital supports. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of designing father-inclusive digital supports that are accessible, practical, and integrated with professional care. Digital supports that provide timely information, emotional support, and opportunities for connection with healthcare providers may help bridge gaps in post-discharge care, enhance fathers’ confidence, and support family well-being during the transition from NICU to home.
Samira Kheirdariyar (Fri,) studied this question.