Parent Perspectives of Co-Occupations in Neonatal Intensive Care: A Thematic Review of Barriers and Supports.

The review included only qualitative parent perspectives, so it does not report quantitative outcomes or staff views. Many included studies had small participant numbers, which can increase bias in individual study findings. Participants were likely parents of medically stable infants, so the review may not represent parents of medically unstable or terminally ill infants. Only English records were included, and some records could not be translated, so non-English parent perspectives were missed. Studies involving COVID-19, post-traumatic stress disorder, postpartum depression, or other mental-health intervention components were excluded, so the review may not fully capture the relationship between parent mental health and engagement. Excluding dissertations may have omitted relevant data. Because data were self-reported by parents, themes reflect subjective experience rather than observed or measured effects. Differences between NICUs and interview formats may have affected how themes were identified across studies.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest and received no financial support.

Do not read the listed supports as proof that occupational therapy improves parent-infant bonding or infant outcomes. This review synthesises parents' qualitative experiences of barriers and supports, not tested interventions or measured effects.