2026 Volume 35 Pages 93-101
This study identified the actual conditions of families raising very low birth weight (VLBW) infants transitioning from neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to home life and the relationship with family empowerment. The study participants were the primary caregivers of VLBW infants and their partners, who visited pediatric follow-up outpatient clinics at two comprehensive perinatal medical centers. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was distributed to primary caregivers and their partners; 77 valid responses were analyzed. Family empowerment was measured using the Japanese version of the Family Empowerment Scale (J-FES), and the relationship was examined using a multiple regression analysis, with J-FES as the objective variable. Family empowerment tended to be higher when the primary caregiver had the opportunity to communicate with their partner (β＝0.340, p＜0.01) and discuss with community staff at a conference before the discharge of the infant from the NICU (β＝0.398, p＜0.01). It is suggested that communicative relationships within the family and collaboration between families, NICU staff, and community staff are required to build a nurturing environment and can lead to proactive adjustment and improvement of familial life.
