Effects of an App-Based Visitation Program for Mothers of High-Risk Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Purpose: This study established an app-based visitation program for mothers of infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)—constrained by COVID-19 visitation restrictions—and assessed its impact on neonatal perception, maternal-infant attachment, and parental stress. Background: High-risk infants in the NICU encounter heightened challenges, exacerbated by COVID-19 restrictions, leading to heightened maternal stress, impaired neonatal perception, and hindered mother-infant attachment. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 40 mothers (20 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group) unable to visit the NICU of a tertiary general hospital in South Korea. The experimental group utilized the Dodam-Dodam smartphone application, while the control group received neonatal information through telephone calls and text messages. Data collection occurred in July 2022 (control) and September 2022 (experimental) using research instruments (parent’s neonatal perception, maternal-infant attachment, and parental stressor scale: NICU, visiting program satisfaction). Descriptive statistics and tests (χ2, Fisher’s exact, Shapiro-Wilk, parametric independent t and paired t tests, and nonparametric tests: Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon’s signed-rank) were employed for analysis. Results: The Dodam-Dodam application significantly impacted maternal-infant attachment parental stress scores and program satisfaction in the experimental group, except for neonatal perception. Conclusions: The Dodam-Dodam application was more efficacious than traditional visiting programs in enhancing maternal-infant attachment, increasing maternal satisfaction and reducing parental stress within NICU settings amid restricted visitation. Implications for Practice and Research: Recommendations include app-based NICU visitation, exploring app variations, studying diverse populations, and providing optimal information provision.