Initiation and maintenance of a hospital-based parent group for parents of premature infants: key factors for success.

The impact of a premature birth can be very traumatic for parents. They are usually not prepared for this event, and their sense of grief and loss is so intense that they often have difficulty coping with the situation. A parent group can help parents adapt to the crisis of prematurity by providing information and family support. This article describes the development of a parent group at a regional perinatal center in Ontario and identifies key factors for its successful initiation and maintenance.