Supportive Nursing Care Intervention for Handling Depression and Anxiety Among Mothers of Neonates Admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): A Meta‐Analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aim This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of supportive nursing care interventions in reducing depression and anxiety among mothers with infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. Design Systematic review and meta‐analysis. Methods Randomised controlled trials conducted in mothers with infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit with any form of supportive nursing interventions compared to no intervention or usual care in terms of either reduction in depression or reduction in anxiety level of the mothers reported in both groups were included. The GRADE approach assessed the quality of evidence, while the pooled standardised mean difference with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was calculated using a random‐effects model. Results Overall, 18 studies were included. For depression, the pooled standardised mean difference was −0.24 (95% CI: −0.44 to −0.04), indicating a significant reduction in depression levels among mothers receiving supportive nursing care compared to standard care. In anxiety, pooled standardised mean difference was −0.61 (95% CI: −0.96 to −0.25), showing substantial reduction in anxiety levels. GRADE findings indicated moderate quality of evidence for depression and very low quality for anxiety, mainly due to heterogeneity and publication bias in anxiety outcomes. Patient or Public Contribution No patient or public contribution.

Keywords

• meta‐analysis
• mothers
• nursing
• physiological stress
• postpartum period