Sponsor
The authors thank the Clinical Outcomes Research and Education at Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine for supporting this study.
Publication Title
BMJ Paediatrics Open
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-3-2026
Subjects
Parent Education Programs -- Reviews
Abstract
Objective:
Families of preterm infants can experience high stress during neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalisation, which interferes with the development of parenting confidence and self-efficacy through active engagement with their infants. Parent NICU support programmes provide guidance and education to build this connection. This systematic review examined the effects of parent education programmes on confidence and self-efficacy among parents of preterm infants.Design Systematic review in PubMed/Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Google Scholar and Web of Science.Setting NICU.Participants Parents of preterm infants.Intervention Education programmes offered to parents in the NICU.Main outcome measures Quantitative surveys measuring parent confidence or self-efficacy.Results 14 studies met inclusion criteria from an initial 220 identified. Five were randomised controlled trials and nine were non-randomised studies. Programmes combining information delivery with opportunities for parent−infant engagement were most effective. Infant access and time to practise skills were key factors in transferring programme knowledge to increase parent confidence and self-efficacy. While 6 of the 14 studies did not show statistically significant differences between groups, all interventions demonstrated improvements in parental confidence or self-efficacy from baseline. Vast variability in duration of intervention, proper descriptions of facilitator trainings, methodological limitations and potential confounding factors reduced the overall quality of evidence to a low level.
Conclusion:
Both unit-specific programmes developed within individual NICUs and commercially available, copyrighted parent education programmes hold value. They are generally effective in building parent confidence and self-efficacy among parents of preterm infants. Integrating either type of programme into standard NICU care may hold promise for strengthening parental competence and promoting family-centred outcomes. Clarity on content/topics of programmes, duration and level of facilitator trainings can strengthen the process of supporting parents in the NICU, even in low resource settings.PROSPERO registration number CRD42024524063.
Rights
Copyright (c) 2026 The Authors
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Locate the Document
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-026-9546-5
DOI
10.1136/bmjpo-2025-004454
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/44608
Publisher
BMJ
Citation Details
Padbidri, P., Joshi, V., Hix-Small, H., & Dekhane, P. B. (2026). Impact of parent education programmes on confidence and self-efficacy in parents of preterm infants: a systematic review. BMJ Paediatrics Open, 10(1), e004454.