NICU・GCUに入院した児の母親のストレスと看護師に望む支援—コロナ禍での調査より

Stress and Desired Support of Mothers With Infants Hospitalized in an NICU or GCU: Survey During the COVID-19 Pandemic

要旨

　目的：コロナ禍でNICU・GCUに入院した児の入院中と退院後1か月の母親のストレスと望む支援を明らかにする．

　方法：母親を対象に児の退院時と退院1か月後に質問紙調査を行った．SF-8，STAI，対児感情尺度の入院中と退院後1か月の比較はWilcoxonの符合付順位検定，母親のストレッサー・看護師に望む支援は質的に分析した．

　結果：対象者は20名であった．母親は入院中には【コロナ禍での面会制限】等に，退院後1か月には【対応が困難な啼泣】等にストレスを感じ，入院中は【面会の確保】等，退院後は【退院後も寄り添い続ける，相談相手・支援者であること】を看護師に望んでいた．身体的健康，接近得点は退院後1か月に有意に上昇した．STAIには変化を認めなかったが，不安に関連したストレッサーは入院中，退院後1か月共に抽出された．

　結論：母親のストレスにはコロナ禍が影響しており，児の理解・家族役割の変化への適応を促す介入，継続看護の重要性が示唆された．

　Objective: This study aimed to clarify the stress and desired support of mothers with infants hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit(NICU) or growing care unit(GCU) during hospitalization and for 1 month after discharge.

　Methods: A survey of mothers, which used self-reported questionnaires, was conducted at discharge and 1 month later. SF-8, STAI, Hanazawa's Feelings toward Baby Scale, stressors, and desired support were included. The results were then analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and mothers' descriptions were analyzed via qualitative analysis.

　Results: We included 20 mothers. When their infants were hospitalized in an NICU/GCU, their stress was from "restricted visitation due to the Covid-19 pandemic. " After discharge, their stress was from "difficulty in reacting to their baby's cry." When their infants were hospitalized in the NICU/GCU, they wanted to "secure visitation." After discharge, they wanted a nurse "to be a consultant and supporter who remains close to them after discharge from the hospital." The Physical Component Summary from the SF-8 and the scores from Hanazawa's Feelings toward Baby Scale at 1 month after discharge were significantly higher than those at hospitalization. No significant change in STAI was observed, but stressors related to anxiety were found both at hospitalization and after discharge.

　Conclusion: The stress of mothers was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus, providing support to mothers is necessary to help them understand their babies and adapt to their changing family roles. Additionally, care for mothers should continue after discharge.