Comfort level of parents who have newborns in neonatal intensive care units

This descriptive and cross-sectional study aimed to determine comfort level ofparents who have newborns in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The study hasbeen carried out at NICUs from three state and two university hospitals which werelocated in Ankara between 05.03.2009 and 05.05.2009. The sample was composedconvenience sampling method and total of 176 parents (136 mothers and 40 fathers).Data were collected by using The Holistic Comfort Scale for Family which wasadapted from General Comfort Scale and 2 questionnaires (parent inquiry form andnewborn inquiry form). The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, Chisquare,Independent-Samples T and One-Way ANOVA tests.According to expressions of the parents about to visit of their newborns, theyare satisified with their visit and they observed the developments of their babies inevery visit. Mothers want to attend to care of baby more than fathers. When sociodemographiccharacteristics and comfort scores of parents was investigated, it wasdetermined that fathers, parents who have work and lived in Ankara and haveenough income status were more comfortable than others. Hospitals are not relatedwith parents comfort level, there is no change at comfort level of parents.The results of this study showed that parental status as being mother or father,type of the birth of the baby, Newborns do not get oxygen, parental education leveland work status has been determined to affect the dimension of the physical comfort.The dimension of the psychospiritual comfort was affected type of the birth of thebaby, newborns do not get oxygen, nutrition type, working status of parents, wherethey live and income status. Type of the birth of the baby, the parents have mother orfather status and their place in Ankara affected the dimension of the environmentalcomfort. Type of the birth of the baby, other child status, number of children, incomestatus influenced the sociocultural comfort. Type of the birth of the baby, newbornsdo not get oxygen, type of nutrition, the parents have mother or father status,parental education status, where they live, their place in Ankara affected, incomestatus influenced the type of relief for comfort. Type of the birth of the baby, theparents have mother or father status and work status influenced the type of ease.Type of the birth of the baby, surgery status of the baby, nutrition type, the parentshave mother or father status, parental work status, income status has beendetermined to affect the type of finding the meaning of comfort. Suggestions havebeen made in order to support and facilitate parents? comfort.