Restriction of the family-centered care miracle by COVID-19: the role of the father in sleep disturbance of hospitalized pediatrics

Introduction: One of the important outcomes of hospitalization in infants with respiratory disease is sleep disturbance. This study was performed to investigate the role and participation of fathers in the sleep of hospitalized pediatrics with pneumonia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: In this clinical trial study, the parents of 40 children aged from 12 to 36 months hospitalized with a diagnosis of pneumonia were randomly assigned to the control and intervention groups. After implementing a supportive training program for the fathers in the intervention group, each father made an online video communication with the infant and the mother as the primary caregiver. Mothers completed the brief infant sleep questionnaire-revised at the beginning and a week later. Results: Data analysis showed that daytime sleep duration, setting time and total 24-hour sleep time in the intervention group improved compared to the control group. In addition, parents’ behavior toward their child’s sleep improved in the intervention group compared to the control group, but parents’ perceptions of their child’s sleep in the intervention group did not show a significant difference compared to the control group. The mean total score of the intervention group also improved compared to the control group. Conclusion: Planning to maintain family unity by educating and supporting fathers during the child’s illness and their paternal support during the COVID-19 pandemic can improve the sleep of the hospitalized child due to pneumonia.