The Effect of Nurse-Parent Support on Coping with Anxiety, and Caregiver Burden Among Parents of Hospitalized Infants: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of nurse-parent support on coping with anxiety and caregiver burden among parents of hospitalized infants. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 214 parents of hospitalized infants from a comprehensive hospital in southern Türkiye. Data were collected between August 2023 and March 2024 using the “Nurse-Parent Support Tool,” “State Anxiety Inventory,” and “Burden Interview Scale.” The STROBE checklist was used for reporting. Results: In this study, 38.3% of the parents were 25 years of age or younger. Parents' perceptions of nurse-parent support were above average; anxiety was high, and caregiver burden was medium. Female parents with lower education levels, whose infants were seven months or older, perceived nurse-parent support as high, and had lower anxiety. In addition, caregiver burden was higher among parents aged 31 or older. There was a negative relationship between nurse-parent support and anxiety level, and a positive relationship between nurse-parent support and caregiver burden. A negative relationship was also observed between anxiety level and caregiver burden. Conclusion: Nurse-parent support was found to reduce parents' anxiety and increase caregiver burden. To improve the quality of care, pediatric nurses should consider parents’ anxiety and caregiver burden and prioritize providing appropriate support.