Introduction: Family centered care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) has been associated with decreased hospital stays, reduced readmission rates, increased family confidence and reduced parental stress. A delay in discharge from the NICU may be detrimental by increasing the incidence of nosocomial infections, increasing cost of care and limiting family/infant interaction. Milestones effecting discharge timing for preterm infants are related to their medical condition and physiologic maturity (such as adequate temperature control, respiratory stability, and ability to feed by mouth). The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of family visitation on discharge timing in the preterm infant. 

Hypothesis:  Increased family visitation will be associated with decreased days to discharge, reduced days of respiratory support, reduced episodes of feeding intolerance and reduced number of days to full feedings and full oral feedings in preterm infants.

Methods: Fifty-eight very low birth weight (VLBW) infants delivered during the 27^th -28^th gestational were sampled by convenience from a Level-III NICU for enrollment in a larger quasi-experimental study examining effect of maternal voice on heart rate variability and learning in the preterm infant.  In this study, VLBW infants from experimental and control groups will be combined together for data analysis.  Experimental and control groups were then divided depending upon the amount of daily family visitations (high: >4/week and low: ≤4/week). Outcome variables measured were days to discharge, days on different modes of respiratory support, the number of episodes feeding intolerance, days to full feedings, and days to full oral feedings.           

Results: Statistical analyses such as Chi-square and Wilcoxon tests are currently underway

Discussion: Although more studies are needed to examine the relationship among family visitations and other variables examined in the study, if increased family visitation does not adversely effect discharge timing in VLBW infants, formal family centered programs in NICUs may be promoted.