Impact of a health education tool on enhancing communication between health providers and parents of neonates in intensive care in Egypt

BackgroundAdmission of an infant to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a stressful experience for parents. Parents' education improves knowledge and satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of using a family information guide about the NICU as a communication intervention between the healthcare providers and parents having their infants in the unit.MethodsAn interventional study was conducted among 100 fathers with their neonates inside the NICU-Kasr Al Ainy Teaching Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. The study passed through three stages: pre-intervention, intervention using a family information guide, and post-intervention.ResultsAfter using the guide, fathers showed significant improvement in their knowledge, with a change in their feelings towards the admission of their neonates to the NICU.ConclusionProviding sufficient information and increasing awareness of parents about the NICU in the form of a written guide is an effective way of improving communication between healthcare providers and parents.