Li X, Lin Y, Huang L, Lin H, Cheng X, Li S, Hu R, Liao J. Effects of web neonatal intensive care unit diaries on the mental health, quality of life, sleep quality, care ability, and hormone levels of parents of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit: A randomized controlled trial.
Intensive Crit Care Nurs 2024;
83:103697. [PMID:
38583413 DOI:
10.1016/j.iccn.2024.103697]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of web neonatal intensive care unit diaries on the mental health, quality of life, sleep quality, care ability, and hormone levels of parents of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.
DESIGN
Prospective randomized controlled parallel-group clinical trial.
SETTING
Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Fujian, China.
METHODS
The control group received routine neonatal intensive care unit care, while the intervention group received a web neonatal intensive care unit diary based on routine care. Outcomes, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, quality of life, sleep quality, care ability, and cortisol and melatonin levels, were evaluated at T1 (Time 1, before the intervention), T2 (Time 2, immediately after the intervention), and T3 (Time 3, 1 month after the intervention).
RESULTS
Seventy pairs of parents of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit were randomly allocated to two groups: intervention (n = 35) and control (n = 35). The anxiety scores in the intervention group were significantly lower at T2 and T3 than those in the control group (P < 0.001). The care ability scores in the intervention group were significantly higher at T2 and T3 (P < 0.001). The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder at T3 was significantly different between the groups (P = 0.040). No significant differences were observed in the quality of life or sleep quality between the groups at T2 and T3 (P > 0.05). No significant differences were observed in cortisol and melatonin levels between the groups (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Web neonatal intensive care unit diaries effectively relieved anxiety symptoms, reduced the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, and enhanced the care abilities of parents of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.
IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE
Web neonatal intensive care unit diary can be considered in clinical practice as a convenient psychological intervention method, especially among parents of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.
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