Evaluation of a complex couplet care intervention in a neonatal intensive care unit:A mixed methods study protocol

Background:Families with an infant in need of intensive care most often experience a harmful separation after birth.This is due to a division of medical specialties into neonatal care and maternal care.Therefore,a couplet care intervention is implemented for mother-infant dyads in a neonatal intensive care unit.This study protocol provides a comprehensive evaluation of the intervention.The aim is to evaluate the effect and implementation of a complex couplet care intervention to promote zero separation between mother and infant.Methods:The couplet care intervention is a family-centered model of care,where treatment-requiring mother-infant dyads will be admitted together and receive couplet care by neonatal nurses.The study adheres to the framework of the Medical Research Council and will use a mixed methods embedded design comprising a quasi-experimental trial and a qualitative process evaluation.Finally,a health economic evaluation will be conducted to assess the cost-effectiveness of this complex couplet care intervention.Discussion:Separation of mother-infant dyads after birth has an adverse impact on family health and well-being.This study protocol evaluates a complex couplet care intervention.With this study,a first step is taken to help bridge the gap between current practices and a new care model to prevent the separation of mothers and their infants.