Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of narrative writing on the satisfaction of the mothers with care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during their neonates' hospitalization.
Materials and methods: This quasi-experimental study with pretest and posttest were administered to a sample size of 70 mothers with preterm neonates. The Neonatal Index of Parental Satisfaction questionnaire was used. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used for data analysis.
Results: The satisfaction level of the mothers was 113.1 ± 17.5 on the 3rd day and 102.3 ± 25.6 on the 10th day of the study in the control group. Paired t-test (p values < 0.011) in the control group showed a significant difference in the satisfaction level of the mothers. In the intervention group, the satisfaction level of the mothers was 107.5 ± 21.5 on the 3rd day and 137 ± 15.2 on the 10th day of the study. Paired t-test (p values < 0.001) showed a significant difference in the satisfaction level of the mothers between the 3rd and 10th day of the study. The results of independent t-test showed a significant difference in satisfaction between the intervention and control groups on the 10th day of the study (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: We suggest that narrative writing may be considered as an efficient supportive intervention to increase the mothers' satisfaction in the NICUs.
Keywords: Narritive; neonatal intensive care unit; satisfaction.