PARENTS OF PREMATURE INFANTS IN A NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AND HOSPITAL DISCHARGE: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Objective: To understand how parents of premature newborns in a neonatal intensive care unit are prepared for hospital discharge. Method: Integrative literature review, through a PubMed and Virtual Health Library database survey. Data was collected between May and August 2022. Was included articles available in full, in Portuguese, English and/or Spanish, published between 2011 and 2021 and related to the topic. Articles without adherence to the theme and duplicate texts were excluded. Results: 16 articles were included in the study, which made it possible to define three categories: Perception of Family/Caregivers regarding the preparation for the newborn's discharge from hospital; Strategies used by the interdisciplinary team to prepare parents/family members for the newborn's discharge; Essential guidance for Parents/Family members for the newborn's discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit. Conclusion: The results of this study show strategies for preparing the parents of newborns in neonatal intensive care for hospital discharge, and the importance of identifying their needs and perceptions for discharge planning adapted to each family's situation, making it possible to increase the parents' readiness for hospital discharge.