Feelings of mothers who participated in pain management in the NICU

Abstract

 The aim of this qualitative study was to reveal the feelings of mothers who participated in pain management in the NICU and to investigate care that supports mothers’ participation. We conducted a semi-structured interview, and analyzed the result with SCAT. The mothers’ feelings were categorized into three periods. Period of getting information about painful procedure: “Mothers lack knowledge about a painful procedure” and feel “a vague fear of the painful procedure”. Gradually, with “a sense of duty to understand the painful procedure”, they gain information and experience “reality shock about the painful procedure”. Nevertheless, the mothers “encourage themselves about the painful procedure” in order to tolerate it. Period when beginning participation in pain management: Mothers take “an interested in pain management” and participate in pain management, but on the other hand, feel “conflicts about pain management”. Developmental period of participation in pain management: Mothers feel “joy of participation in pain management” and “joy of participation of childcare”. The experience that mothers have gained through participation in pain management leads to “confidence in childcare after being discharged” from the hospital. It is necessary to support mothers’ participation in pain management by respecting their feelings in each period.