Continuity of care needs among caregivers of neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the establishment of a home-based continuity of care model.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the current status of continuity of care needs among caregivers of neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and related factors, and to establish a home-based continuity of care model to enhance the care capabilities of NICU caregivers after discharge. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted from May 2022 to May 2025, enrolling 202 caregivers of newborns in the NICU of our hospital as study subjects. All caregivers were the parents of the infants. All data were obtained from the electronic medical record system, including general information questionnaires, neonatal care ability questionnaire, parent discharge readiness scale, and family continuity of care needs survey questionnaire. Based on the results of the family continuity of care needs survey questionnaire, participants were divided into a high continuity of care needs group (n = 146) and a low continuity of care needs group (n = 56). Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between NICU infant caregivers' continuity of care needs and discharge readiness and care ability. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with the current status of continued care needs among NICU newborn caregivers. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to determine the area under the curve (AUC) values, and the predictive value of each factor for the status of continued care needs among NICU newborn caregivers was analyzed. A home-based continued care model was established. RESULTS: The total score for continuity of care needs among caregivers of NICU infants was (126.85 ± 12.90) points, with the highest average score for the item "degree of need" being (3.94 ± 0.80) points, followed by "mode of need" (3.72 ± 0.52) points. The scores for continuity of care needs among NICU newborn caregivers were negatively correlated with discharge readiness and caregiving ability scores (r = -0.63, -0.53, P < 0.05). No multicollinearity issues were identified among the indicators. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that caregiver age, caregiver educational level, caregiving ability, and discharge readiness were all risk factors for NICU newborn caregivers' continuity of care needs (OR = 1.146, 1.668, 1.166, 1.150, P < 0.05), while daily care duration was a protective factor (OR = 0.627, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The level of continuity of care needs among NICU newborn caregivers is relatively high, and caregiver age, caregiver educational level, caregiving ability, and discharge readiness are all factors influencing the status of continuity of care needs. It is necessary for clinical settings to establish and improve home-based continuity of care models to better meet the continuity of care needs of parents, ensuring that NICU patients receive adequate care after discharge.