| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 護理學系 === 104 === SUMMARY
The research aims to explore the fathers’ experiences and feeling on providing Kangaroo Care (KC) to their preterm infants during hospitalization by the phenomenological approach. Using the purposive sampling method and conducted two semi-structured interviews to obtain the meaning and the essential structure of fathers’ experiences toward KC.
Data were analyzed using Colaizzi (1978) phenomenological analysis method. Four themes were conducted: (1) life variation: toughness and vulnerability; (2) heavy adagio: the farthest distance; (3) tender melody: going toward an intimate interaction; (4) composition of new songs: arouse and robust father’s paternal role. “Healing” and “transformation” were the core experiences for these fathers. Furthermore, the findings reveal the gender consciousness was also influences the parenting behavior and fathers’ performance.
The study results can help nurses and family members understand the paternal perceptions. This could achieve by providing emotional support and friendly environment for fathers and their preterm babies.
Key words: father, preterm infant, kangaroo care, phenomenology
INTRODUCTION
The survival rates of the prematurity have been increased because of the progress in neonatology and nursing skills. The clinical care issues is no longer about survival, more important is the whole family’s quality of life. The hospitalization separated parents and their preterm infants, and the stressful healthcare environment will pull away the psychological distance. In addition, the Taiwanese custom of “doing the month” extend the separation time between mothers and infants. It influences the natural process in establish parent-child relationship. The kangaroo care (KC) method has been proved its effects on improving the quality of medical and family-centered care. In clinical observation, fathers are the primary visitors in NICU in the first month after the baby born. However, they are less participation and interaction with their preterm babies. While promoting the KC for the preterm infants and their parents, it should be the essential concern about the fathers’ feelings, influences and meaning in the implementation process. This research aims to explore the fathers’ experiences and feeling on providing KC to their preterm infants during hospitalization.
MATRRIALS AND METHODS
A phenomenological approach is used to explore the meaning and the essential structure of fathers’ experiences toward KC for their preterm infants. Using the purposive sampling method, the fathers who have a preterm infant at the sick baby nursery in a medical center in southern Taiwan was recruited. Two in-depth interviews were conducted during hospitalization and after the preterm infant discharge. After the interviews, this study converted the interview content into transcripts, and used Colaizzi (1978) phenomenological analysis method to extract the themes. To improve the accuracy of the results present, the participants were also invited along with to view the study results. This study used Lincoln ＆ Guba’s (1985, 1994) five indicators of research rigor to improve the trust value of qualitative research results.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In this study, we extracted themes among nine participants’ description of experience, four themes were conducted: (1) life variation: toughness and vulnerability; (2) heavy adagio: the farthest distance; (3) tender melody: going toward an intimate interaction; (4) composition of new songs: arouse and robust father’s paternal role. The finding indicates that KC can help father reach growth in positive adaptation, which is mainly attributable to two essences of experiences in “healing” and “transformation”. KC method could effectively heal fathers’ emotional, repair the relationship between father and their preterm babies, and also help them cope with difficulties by “doing good” actions. The skin-to skin contact triggered father's love, and repositioning the paternal roles and functions. In addition, we also recognized further the shaping process of male on fatherhood role’s in the gender consciousness from the course of role transformed.
CONCLUSION
Preterm event just like a variation in smooth life of father; during changes in the ups and downs, the KC method which helped them to attain the paternal role and to cope with the unexpected situation. Through research and exploration, we concluded that KC not only be able to provide multiple aspects of healing function for father, but also as a catalyst to help novice father transform and grow generally, further finding that the traditional society of rigid gender norms had influence on father’s behavior and performance.
A deep understanding paternal perception, would contribute on medical and family members to learn more about father's state of mind while facing with the role transition and turning point, but also we can reflect their importance in the care environment. As a result, which to develop the programs related to KC while giving effectively support and create a friendly medical environment for fathers and their preterm babies.
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