Bakhrudin All Habsy, Kanaya Violetta Hariono, Sarah Jelita Br Sitanggang, Viona Agustin, Saifuddin Akbar, Angelina, Shevinda Azkia Fairish
This letter responds to an article by Darby et al. (2026) on neonatal nurses' perceptions of the prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in parents in Northern Ireland. While the study revealed high levels of nurse awareness of parental trauma, estimated at 71 -80% in mothers and 61-70% in fathers, there is an urgent need to address the communication methodologies used by healthcare professionals. The article emphasizes the role of nurses in educating parents to enhance bonding, but a one-way educational approach risks fueling psychological resistance in parents experiencing PTSD. The authors propose the integration of Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques, specifically the OARS (Open-Ended Questions, Affirmation, Reflection, Summary) strategy, to address parental ambivalence about involvement in infant care in the technical and traumatic neonatal environment. By prioritizing parental autonomy through the Elicit -Provide-Elicit technique, nurses can move beyond clinical instruction to empowering collaborative dialogue. The authors conclude that training in evidence - based communication skills such as MI is essential for neonatal nurses to strengthen the Family Integrated Care model and reduce the long-term impact of PTSD on families. Copyright © 2026. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Guidance and Counseling Department, State University of Surabaya, Indonesia
