NICU-FACCE survey shows high reliability and validity for family-centered careNew Survey Tool Helps Measure Care for NICU Families

Hospital pediatrics Published August 5, 2026 Study authors: Rosenthal Jennifer L, Xu Xiaochen, Albano Anthony D, Tancredi Daniel J PubMed ↗ DOI ↗ Editorial oversight: Dr. Sofia Müller, MD · Lifespan & Whole-Person Care

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Key Takeaway

Consider using NICU-FACCE to assess family-centered care, but validate further in diverse settings.

This secondary analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trial assessed the psychometric properties of a 10-item revised Family-Centered Care Experience (FACCE) survey, renamed NICU-FACCE, in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) setting. The study included 389 caregivers, comprising 223 birthing parents and 166 second caregivers. The primary outcome was the psychometric performance of the survey, including internal consistency, interrater correlation, dimensionality, and convergent validity.

The mean NICU-FACCE summary score was 8.9 on a 0-10 scale, indicating high overall satisfaction. Internal consistency was strong, with a coefficient α of 0.89. Total scores between birthing parents and second caregivers showed high correlation, suggesting consistency across caregiver types. Factor scores correlated strongly with the summary score (r=0.93), and the intermodel correlation between Rasch and 2PL scores was 0.996, indicating robust measurement properties.

Convergent validity was supported by a partial correlation of 0.65 (95% CI, 0.56-0.72) with Child-HCAHPS survey items. No adverse events or tolerability issues were reported, as this was a psychometric study. Limitations include the secondary analysis design and lack of follow-up data, which may affect generalizability.

For clinicians, the NICU-FACCE survey appears to be a feasible and reliable tool for measuring family-centered care in NICUs. However, its utility in guiding clinical decisions or quality improvement should be interpreted cautiously, given the need for further validation in diverse settings.

Researchers analyzed a 10-item survey called the NICU-FACCE. This tool was designed to measure family-centered care for parents and caregivers of babies in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). The study looked at how well the survey works as a consistent way to collect feedback from these families.

The study included 389 participants, including birthing parents and other caregivers. Results showed that the survey is highly reliable and consistent. For example, it showed high agreement between different types of scoring models and strong correlation between scores given by different types of caregivers. It also showed a positive link with existing hospital assessment tools.

Because this was a psychometric evaluation, the study did not test a medical treatment or a specific clinical intervention. Instead, it confirmed that the NICU-FACCE survey is a reliable tool for hospitals to use. This means hospitals can use it to better understand and improve the support they provide to families during a difficult time.

What this means for you:

The NICU-FACCE survey is a reliable tool for measuring how well hospitals support families in neonatal care units.

Common questions

What is the purpose of the NICU-FACCE survey?

The NICU-FACCE is a 10-item tool used to measure family-centered care. It helps hospitals understand how well they are supporting parents and caregivers whose babies are in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The study confirmed it is a reliable way to collect this information.

Who was included in this study?

The study included 389 participants. This group consisted of people caring for babies in the NICU, including 223 birthing parents and 166 second caregivers. The results showed a high correlation between the scores given by these different groups.

Is this survey a new medical treatment?

No, this is not a medical treatment or a clinical intervention. It is a psychometric evaluation of a survey tool. The study was designed to see if the survey is a reliable way to measure care quality, not to treat any specific medical condition.

Study Details

Study typeRct

Sample sizen = 389

EvidenceLevel 2

PublishedAug 2026

PMID42413943

View Original Abstract ↓

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate psychometric properties of a revised family caregiver-reported survey assessing family-centeredness of care in the new context of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) encounters. METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in a NICU. A trial outcome was caregiver-reported family-centered care using a 10-item revised version of the Family-Centered Care Experience (FACCE) survey. We included all caregivers who completed the FACCE survey. We analyzed internal consistency reliability, interrater correlation, dimensionality via classic and item response theory (IRT) methods, and convergent validity with Child Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (Child-HCAHPS) Survey items. RESULTS: Among 389 participants (57.3% birthing parent), the mean (SD) NICU-FACCE summary score was 8.9 (2.2) on a 0-10 scale. All items demonstrated consistent response patterns and good internal consistency (coefficient α = 0.89). High correlation of total scores between 223 birthing parents and 166 second caregivers indicated family-centered care across groups. A unidimensional IRT model was best fitting, with a 2-parameter logistic (2PL) model providing best fit. Resulting factor scores showed strong correlations with the summary score (r = 0.93) and a very high intermodel correlation between Rasch and 2PL scores (r = 0.996). The partial correlation between NICU-FACCE and Child-HCAHPS was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.56-0.72). CONCLUSIONS: This evaluation provides foundational psychometric evidence that the NICU-FACCE survey is a feasible, reliable measure of family-centered care. Survey items functioned as intended and showed expected relationships with related constructs, supporting its ability to meaningfully capture caregivers' experiences.

NICU-FACCE survey shows high reliability and validity for family-centered careNew Survey Tool Helps Measure Care for NICU Families

Common questions

Study Details

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Common questions

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