Robust literature supports the positive effects of kangaroo mother care (KMC) on infant physiologic stability and parent–infant bonding in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Comparatively little is known about kangaroo father care (KFC) in the NICU, and KFC implementation has been limited. Our pilot feasibility study objective was to examine KFC effects on premature infants and fathers as compared to KMC. Parents of preterm NICU infants independently completed a 90-min Kangaroo Care (KC) session on consecutive days. Infant heart rate variability (HRV) and apnea/periodicity measures were compared (pre-KC to KC; KFC to KMC). Additionally, we assessed the feasibility of administering three psychosocial questionnaires to fathers and mothers in the NICU and after discharge. Ten preterm infants completed 20 KC sessions (33^4/7–37^4/7 weeks post-menstrual age). Results demonstrated similar infant physiologic responses between KMC and KFC, including significant differences in measures of HRV (p < .05) between KC and non-KC periods. Eighty-eight percentage of questionnaires administered were completed, supporting the utilization of these instruments in future research of this population. If confirmed, these preliminary results identify an opportunity to objectively assess KFC effects, supporting the development of empirically based KFC programs benefitting NICU families.

中文翻译：

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袋鼠式父亲护理：一项生理、生物和心理社会措施的试点可行性研究，以捕捉新生儿重症监护室中父婴和母婴皮肤接触的影响

大量文献支持袋鼠妈妈护理 (KMC) 对新生儿重症监护室 (NICU) 中婴儿生理稳定性和亲子关系的积极影响。NICU 中对袋鼠父亲护理（KFC）的了解相对较少，肯德基的实施也受到限制。我们的试点可行性研究目标是检查肯德基与 KMC 相比对早产儿和父亲的影响。早产 NICU 婴儿的父母连续几天独立完成了 90 分钟的袋鼠式护理 (KC) 课程。比较了婴儿心率变异性 (HRV) 和呼吸暂停/周期性测量（KC 前到 KC；肯德基到 KMC）。此外，我们评估了在新生儿重症监护室和出院后对父亲和母亲进行三份社会心理问卷调查的可行性。10 名早产儿完成了 20 次 KC 课程（33 月经后^4/7 –37 ^4/7周）。结果表明 KMC 和 KFC 之间的婴儿生理反应相似，包括 KC 期和非 KC 期之间HRV 测量值的显着差异 ( p < .05)。完成了 88% 的问卷调查，支持在未来对该人群的研究中使用这些工具。如果得到证实，这些初步结果确定了一个客观评估肯德基效果的机会，支持基于经验的肯德基计划的发展，使 NICU 家庭受益。