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Padilla-Muñoz EM, Barbancho-Morant MM, Lanzarote-Fernández MD, Sanduvete-Chaves S, Chacón-Moscoso S. Psycho-emotional intervention with parents of very preterm babies during the first year: A single-arm pilot study. FAMILY PROCESS 2024. [PMID: 38659149 DOI: 10.1111/famp.13002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Studies of intervention programs that aim to improve the emotional state of parents of children admitted to the neonatal intensive care units (NICU) are scarce in Spain. The aims of this single-arm pilot study are to get to know the emotional profile of parents of high-risk preterm newborns, and to explore parents' patterns of emotional well-being before and after a psychological program called the Parental Empowerment Program, to increase parental readiness levels. The sample was made up of 100 parents (50 couples) who participated in the program. Measurements were taken of post-traumatic stress, depression, and resilience at 1 month and 12 months. Repeated measurements and dyadic data analyses were performed. One month after the birth of the baby and prior to the start of the program, mothers show more symptoms of stress and depression than fathers. After the intervention, both parents experienced improvements in their mood levels. The evidence obtained seems to show that high resilience levels and low post-traumatic stress symptoms are associated with reduced depression levels after implementing the program. However, the heterogeneity of the responses obtained, the observed associations between stress, resilience, and maternal depression, along with the reciprocal influence between maternal and paternal depression 1 year after the intervention, highlight the need for a more in-depth exploration of the interplay between risk and protective factors in this population. Despite the identified potential threats to validity, further work in this direction is recommended, including the implementation of clinical trials to demonstrate intervention efficacy. The adaptation of the parents' mutual emotional adjustment at each stage would allow them to participate more actively in the baby's care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Salvador Chacón-Moscoso
- Faculty of Psychology, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
- Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Karimi M, Bakht R, Tapak L, Refaei M, Basiri B. The effect of empowerment counseling on stress and self-esteem of mothers with hospitalized premature infants. J Reprod Infant Psychol 2024; 42:315-326. [PMID: 35642688 DOI: 10.1080/02646838.2022.2081674] [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: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the effect of counselling on stress and self-esteem of mothers with hospitalized premature infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS This parallel randomized clinical trial was conducted on 80 primigravida mothers aged 18-40 years, gestational age of 28-34 weeks in 2021 in Iran. The women were randomly assigned to two groups by blocked randomization. The data were collected using a demographic information questionnaire, Paternal Stress Scale and Rosenberg self-esteem questionnaire. Individual counselling based on the GATHER model was carried out within two consecutive weeks in four sessions. Data were analyzed with SPSS 24. RESULTS There was no significant difference between the two groups in demographic variables, stress, and self-esteem before the intervention (P>0.05). There was a substantial difference in the mean score of self - esteem 9.52±3.22 and 16.75±6.39 (P<0.001), stress 154.65±32.15and 61±10.98 (P<0.001) and different dimensions of stress between the control and intervention groups after the intervention. The most significant reduction occurred in the dimension of appearance and behaviour of the infant (cohen d=3.146). CONCLUSIONS The results show counselling with an empowerment approach based on the GATHER model is effective in reducing stress and increasing self-esteem of mothers of premature infants admitted to the intensive care unit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzieh Karimi
- Department of Mother and Child Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Rafat Bakht
- Department of Mother and Child Health, Mother and Child Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Leili Tapak
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health ND Modeling of Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Mansoureh Refaei
- Department of Mother and Child Health, Mother and Child Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Behnaz Basiri
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
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Ghaedi-Heidari F, Izadi M, Seyedbagheri S, Ahmadi A, Sayadi AR, Sadeghi T. The Effect of Mindfulness on Posttraumatic Growth of Mothers of Premature Infants Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 2024; 31:19-25. [PMID: 37178339 DOI: 10.1007/s10880-023-09961-5] [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] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) in mothers of premature infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Iran. Sixty mothers were selected by convenience sampling and assigned to the intervention and control groups. The intervention group received two MBSR sessions each week over the course of three weeks. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) was used to collect data before, immediately after, and 1 month after the intervention. Based on repeated measures ANOVA, group-by-time interaction effect was significant and there was a statistically significant difference in the mean PTG scores of mothers in the two groups over time (p = 0.004). MBSR increased PTG in mothers. As a result, it is suggested that this approach be used in psychological support programs for mothers who have premature infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Ghaedi-Heidari
- Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery School, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Masoomeh Izadi
- Student Research Committee, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - Seyedhamid Seyedbagheri
- Deptartment of Pediatric Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery School, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
| | - Atefeh Ahmadi
- Nursing Research Center, Razi Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Ahmadreza-Reza Sayadi
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Department of Psychiatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - Tabandeh Sadeghi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Department of Pediatric Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery School, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
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Worrall S, Christiansen P, Khalil A, Silverio SA, Fallon V. Associations between prematurity, postpartum anxiety, neonatal intensive care unit admission, and stress. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1323773. [PMID: 38463430 PMCID: PMC10921229 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1323773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction It is well established that a premature birth increases the likelihood of developing anxiety during the postpartum period, and that the environment of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) might be a contributing factor. Mothers of earlier premature infants may experience these anxieties to a higher degree compared to mothers of later premature infants. The aim of this study was to explore the association between prematurity and postpartum-specific anxiety, and the relationship between postpartum-specific anxiety and stress in the NICU. Materials and methods Mothers (N = 237) of infants aged between birth and 12 months completed an online survey containing the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale - Research Short Form (PSAS-RSF) and the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS:NICU). Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the relationship between gestational age and postpartum-specific anxiety, with one-way ANOVAs used to analyze this relationship with respect to categories of gestational age. Hierarchical regression models analyzed the relationship between postpartum-specific anxiety and stress in the NICU. Results For the PSAS-RSF, Practical Infant Care Anxieties (p = 0.001), Maternal Competence and Attachment Anxieties (p = 0.033), and Infant Safety and Welfare Anxieties (p = 0.020) were significantly associated with week of gestation. Practical Infant Care and Infant Safety and Welfare Anxieties were significantly higher for mothers of late premature infants, compared to mothers of term infants (p < 0.001; p = 0.019). There were no significant between-group differences with respect to Maternal Competence and Attachment Anxieties. After controlling for potential confounders, Infant Safety and Welfare Anxieties were significantly associated with increased stress in the NICU (p < 0.001) as measured by the PSS:NICU. Conclusions Our findings highlight the need for interventions for mothers with premature infants, which specifically target anxieties reflected in the PSAS-RSF, such as routine care and increasing maternal self-efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Semra Worrall
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Christiansen
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Asma Khalil
- Fetal Medicine Unit, Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Fetal Medicine Unit, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sergio A. Silverio
- Department of Women & Children’s Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria Fallon
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Arshadi Bostanabad M, Hosseinzadeh M, Molazemi Z, Namdar Areshtanab H. Emotional intelligence and stress and their relationship with breastfeeding self-efficacy in mothers of premature infants. BMC Womens Health 2024; 24:15. [PMID: 38172831 PMCID: PMC10765695 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-023-02849-4] [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: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Premature infants need to be hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for long periods of time, which can increase anxiety and stress in their mothers. Additionally, the breastfeeding rate is lower among preterm infants. This study aimed to determine stress levels and emotional intelligence in mothers of preterm infants and their relationship with breastfeeding self-efficacy. METHODS This descriptive-correlational study was performed with a convenience sampling of 210 mothers of premature infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit in Tabriz, Iran in 2021. Data collection tools included socio-demographic checklist, perceived stress scale (PSS14), Dennis' breastfeeding self-efficacy scale, and the Schering emotional intelligence questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16 via descriptive and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation and one-way ANOVA and modified general linear model). RESULTS Study findings demonstrated that most of the mothers had low stress (75.2%) and high breastfeeding self-efficacy (61.9%). The mean (SD) of emotional intelligence of the participants was 88.18 (16.60), ranging from 33 to 165. The results of the general linear model by modifying the demographic characteristics showed that the variables of emotional intelligence (B = 0.23, P = 0.03), stress (B=-0.56, P = 0.01), gestational age (B = 2.81, P < 0.001) and number of deliveries (B = 9.41, P < 0.001) were predictors of breastfeeding self-efficacy. CONCLUSION The findings showed that mothers of preterm infants had low emotional intelligence, and the majority of them had low perceived stress and high breastfeeding self-efficacy. Findings highlight the importance of addressing maternal stress and enhancing emotional intelligence to promote successful breastfeeding in mothers of preterm infants. Healthcare providers and managers are encouraged to offer support and educational programs to mothers of preterm infants, aiming to enhance their emotional intelligence. Further research and interventions focusing on these factors are warranted to improve the overall well-being of both mothers and infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Arshadi Bostanabad
- Department of Pediatric Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mina Hosseinzadeh
- Department of Community Health Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Zahra Molazemi
- Department of Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hossein Namdar Areshtanab
- Department of Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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Jones L, Mariapun J, Tan AXQ, Kassim Z, Su TT. Maternal wellbeing of Malaysian mothers after the birth of a preterm infant. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023; 23:510. [PMID: 37442958 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-05823-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Malaysia approximately 7% of births result in a preterm birth (< 37 weeks). Research in many other countries has found that mothers of preterm infants experience poorer psychological wellbeing. However, there has been limited research in Malaysia. We examined wellbeing, using the WHO Quality of Life brief version questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF), in mothers who have preterm and full-term infants. METHODS Data was collected as part of the South East Asian Community Observatory MISS-P project. A total of 3221 mothers (7.9% with a preterm and 92.1 with a full-term birth) completed a survey, with a range of measures, including the WHOQoL-BREF and sociodemographic questions. RESULTS For the physical health, psychological wellbeing and quality of their environment WHOQOL-BREF domains, a lower gestational age, a lower education level, and having had an emergency caesarean delivery were significantly associated (p < 0.05) with a lower quality of life, and there was a weak effect for ethnicity for some domains. The effects were strongest for mothers' education level. CONCLUSIONS There is a weak but significant relationship between the gestational age of an infant and the mother's quality of life. Mothers in Malaysia with a preterm infant or a lower level of education may benefit from additional support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liz Jones
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University (Malaysia), Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Jeevitha Mariapun
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University (Malaysia), Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Abbey Xiao Qian Tan
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University (Malaysia), Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Zaid Kassim
- 2Segamat District Public Health Office, Ministry of Health, 85000, Segamat, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Tin Tin Su
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University (Malaysia), Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
- South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO), Monash University (Malaysia), Jalan Lagoon, Selatan, Bandar Sunway, Selangor State, Malaysia
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Halemani K, Shetty AP, Thimmappa L, Issac A, Dhiraaj S, Radha K, Mishra P, Mathias EG. Impact of probiotic on anxiety and depression symptoms in pregnant and lactating women and microbiota of infants: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Glob Health 2023; 13:04038. [PMID: 37218177 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.13.04038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Probiotics are non-invasive therapies composed of live bacteria and yeast. Administration of prebiotics improved the health status of pregnant and lactating women, as well as newborns. This review aimed to appraise the evidence concerning the effectiveness of probiotics on the mental health of pregnant women, lactating mother and the microbiota of the newborn. Methods This systematic review and meta-analysis ascertained quantitative studies published in Medline (PubMed), Clinical Key, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), the Cochrane Library, and Google scholar. Two authors independently screened and extracted the data from the primary studies that analysed the efficacy of probiotics on the mental health of pregnant and lactating women and the microbiota of the newborn. We adopted Cochrane Collaboration guidelines and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. The qualities of included trials were assessed by Cochrane collaboration's risk of bias tool (ROB-2). Results Sixteen trials comprised 946 pregnant women, 524 were lactating mothers, and 1678 were infants. The sample size of primary studies ranged from 36 to 433. Probiotics were administered as interventions, using either a single strain of Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus or a double-strain combination of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Probiotics supplementation reduced anxiety in pregnant (n = 676, standardised mean difference (SMD) = 0.01; 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.28,0.30, P = 0.04, I2 = 70) and lactating women (n = 514, SMD = -0.17; 95% CI = -1.62,1.27, P = 0.98, I2 = 0). Similarly, probiotics decreased depression in pregnant (n = 298, SMD = 0.05; 95% CI = -0.24,0.35, P = 0.20, I2 = 40) and lactating women (n = 518, SMD = -0.10; 95% CI = -1.29,-1.05, P = 0.11, I2 = 60%). Similarly, probiotics supplementation improved the gut microbiota and reduced the duration of crying, abdominal distension, abdominal colic and diarrhoea. Conclusion Non-invasive probiotic therapies are more useful to pregnant and lactating women and newborns. Registration The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022372126).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurvatteppa Halemani
- Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Asha P Shetty
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Latha Thimmappa
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalyani, West- Bengal, India
| | - Alwin Issac
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Sanjay Dhiraaj
- Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - K Radha
- Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Prabhaker Mishra
- Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Prevalence of and factors associated with postnatal depression and anxiety among parents of preterm infants: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord 2023; 322:235-248. [PMID: 36400151 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with postpartum depression and anxiety among mothers and fathers of preterm infants and to examine the relationships between maternal and paternal symptoms. METHODS Six electronic databases were searched to identify eligible studies reporting parental depression and anxiety within 1 year postpartum. Data were extracted for a random-effects meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were conducted to analyze associations between study characteristics and prevalence estimates. RESULTS In total, 79 studies were included. The meta-analysis of studies on mothers generated estimates of prevalence for depression (29.2 %, 95 % CI, 21.8 %-37.9 %) and anxiety (37.7 %, 95 % CI, 24.1 %-53.6 %). The meta-analysis of fathers indicated a pooled depression prevalence of 17.4 % (95 % CI, 12.5 %-23.8 %) and an anxiety estimate of 18.3 % (95 % CI, 8.1 %-36.3 %). Assessment time points and methods as well as the geographic continent in which the study was conducted were significant moderators of depression and anxiety. Significant inter-correlations were found between mothers' and fathers' depression and anxiety symptoms (p < 0.05). LIMITATIONS Limited data from specific geographic continents, including Africa and Asia. CONCLUSIONS Prevalence of depression and anxiety among preterm infants' parents was high, highlighting the need for early psychological screening and assessment. Further research is required to improve services that focus on parents' postpartum psychological needs in the family context.
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Ong SL, Soh KL, Hussin EOD, Japar S, Soh KG, Vorasiha P, Daud A. Quality of life among mothers of preterm newborns in a Malaysian neonatal intensive care unit. BELITUNG NURSING JOURNAL 2022; 8:93-100. [PMID: 37521892 PMCID: PMC10386805 DOI: 10.33546/bnj.1872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background As Quality of Life (QoL) becomes progressively vital in health care services, its importance in mother and child health is of no exception too. Quality of life among mothers with a premature newborn is an issue that has led to growing concerns in the health care system. Yet, despite the knowledge about mother's QoL being essential to family-centered planning on prematurity integrated healthcare, current evidence has been scant. Objective To examine factors related to the QoL of mothers having preterm newborns hospitalized in the neonatal critical unit. Methods A non-probability convenience survey was used in a public hospital in Malaysia, covering 180 mothers whose preterm newborns were hospitalized into level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) through the completion of a 26-questions survey of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) and the 26-questions of Parental Stress Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS: NICU). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and Pearson correlation coefficients. Result The mean scores for mothers' quality of life were (M = 3.67, SD = 0.73) and maternal stress (M = 3.03, SD = 0.90) out of 5. A mother's occupation was found to be the only factor associated with the quality of life among mothers who have preterm newborns admitted to the NICU. Furthermore, maternal role change was found to have a moderate negative relationship with the quality of life (r = 0.310, p = 0.05). Conclusion The findings of this study revealed that the main factors contributing to the mother's QoL during their preterm newborns' NICU admission were role change-related stress. Thus, to maintain a better QoL among this group of mothers during this traumatic period, a special nursing intervention program must be implemented immediately, right after the preterm newborns' admission, to relieve the mothers' stress which has been proven to have a direct effect on the mothers' QoL. The study results will alert healthcare providers, particularly neonatal nurses, on the need to support mothers psychologically in terms of role change. This is to ensure a better quality of life among mothers whose newborns were admitted to the NICU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swee Leong Ong
- School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Kim Lam Soh
- Department of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Emni Omar Daw Hussin
- Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Salimah Japar
- Department of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Kim Geok Soh
- Department of Sports Studies, Faculty of Education, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ponpun Vorasiha
- College of Nursing and Health, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Dusit, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Azlina Daud
- Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia
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Perceptions of Parent Stressors in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Among the General Public and Healthcare Professionals. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs 2022; 36:186-197. [PMID: 35476773 DOI: 10.1097/jpn.0000000000000643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Intervention efforts to improve the psychosocial well-being of parents with an infant in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are high priority. This study assessed public and healthcare professionals' perceptions of prominent NICU stressors to highlight areas where NICU parents are in need of further support. Relations with sample characteristics were also examined to establish the generalizability of known parent demographic/sociofamilial risk factors. METHODS A cross-sectional design was used to assess public (n = 96) and staff (n = 55) responses on the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS:NICU). RESULTS The public perceived parental stress as being low to moderate. This was significantly lower than the staff estimate and highly comparable with past parent reports. Staff communication was perceived as most stressful by the public with this influenced by gender and education. Staff with more NICU experience were more likely to overestimate parental stress, particularly those working at the highest care level. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, these findings highlight preconceived anxiety around staff communication and behaviors and indicate that education on the potential for traumatic unit experiences to influence staff-parent communication may be important.
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Hadian Shirazi Z, Ghasemloo H, Razavinejad SM, Sharifi N, Bagheri S. The effect of training the fathers to support their wives on stress and self-efficacy in mothers of premature newborns hospitalized in NICU: a quasi-experimental study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:102. [PMID: 35120476 PMCID: PMC8817545 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04413-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The birth of premature newborns and their separation from family due to their hospitalization in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) cause stress in the parents, especially mothers. We conducted this study aimed to evaluate whether training the fathers to support their wives impacts premature newborn mothers’ stress and self-efficacy or not? Methods A quasi-experimental (before-after study) including one experimental and control group was used. Data were collected from Seventy-five parents with newborns hospitalized in NICU (n = 30) in the intervention and (n = 45) in usual care groups. Settings were the NICUs of the two international, educational, specialty, and subspecialty Nemazee and Hafez hospitals of the Shiraz University of Medical Science. Fathers in the intervention group learned how to support their wives and provide care for their premature newborns. The control group received the usual care. Mother’s stress and self-efficacy were measured using validated questionnaires. Results Data analysis showed that the mean scores of mothers’ stress and self-efficacy from pre-intervention to post-intervention were significantly decreased and increased respectively in the intervention group (p <0.001). At the same time, there was no significant difference in the control group. Conclusion When fathers are trained to support their wives and do so, it relieves the stress and improves the mothers’ self-efficacy, and has a direct effect on providing care to their premature newborns. Therefore, it is recommended that measures should be taken so that the fathers be present, participate in providing care, and support their wives and newborns in NICU. Trial registration IRCT20171130037691N1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Hadian Shirazi
- Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hamed Ghasemloo
- Student Research Committee, Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Seyyed Mostajab Razavinejad
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Neonatal Research Center, Nemazee Teaching Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Nasrin Sharifi
- Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Shahpar Bagheri
- Student Research Committee, Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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Malouf R, Harrison S, Burton HA, Gale C, Stein A, Franck LS, Alderdice F. Prevalence of anxiety and post-traumatic stress (PTS) among the parents of babies admitted to neonatal units: A systematic review and meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine 2022; 43:101233. [PMID: 34993425 PMCID: PMC8713115 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.101233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parents of babies admitted to neonatal units (NNU) are exposed to a range of potentially distressing experiences, which can lead to mental health symptoms such as increased anxiety and post-traumatic stress (PTS). This review aimed to describe how anxiety and PTS are defined and assessed, and to estimate anxiety and PTS prevalence among parents of babies admitted to NNU. METHOD Medline, Embase, PsychoINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health literature were searched to identify studies published prior to April 14, 2021. Included studies were assessed using Hoy risk of bias tool. A random-effects model was used to estimate pooled prevalence with 95% CIs. Potential sources of variation were investigated using subgroup analyses and meta-regression. The review is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020162935). FINDINGS Fifty six studies involving 6,036 parents met the review criteria; 21 studies assessed anxiety, 35 assessed PTS, and 8 assessed both. The pooled prevalence of anxiety was 41.9% (95%CI:30.9, 53.0) and the pooled prevalence of PTS was 39.9% (95%CI:30.8, 48.9) among parents up to one month after the birth. Anxiety prevalence decreased to 26.3% (95%CI:10.1, 42.5) and PTS prevalence to 24.5% (95%CI:17.4, 31.6) between one month and one year after birth. More than one year after birth PTS prevalence remained high 27.1% (95%CI:20.7, 33.6). Data on anxiety at this time point were limited. There was high heterogeneity between studies and some evidence from subgroup and meta-regression analyses that study characteristics contributed to the variation in prevalence estimates. INTERPRETATION The prevalence of anxiety and PTS was high among parents of babies admitted to NNU. The rates declined over time, although they remained higher than population prevalence estimates for women in the perinatal period. Implementing routine screening would enable early diagnosis and effective intervention. FUNDING This research is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Policy Research Programme, conducted through the Policy Research Unit in Maternal and Neonatal Health and Care, PR-PRU-1217-21202. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem Malouf
- Policy Research Unit in Maternal and Neonatal Health and Care, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Sian Harrison
- Policy Research Unit in Maternal and Neonatal Health and Care, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Hollie A.L Burton
- Policy Research Unit in Maternal and Neonatal Health and Care, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Chris Gale
- Neonatal Medicine, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster campus, 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9NH
| | - Alan Stein
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Medical Research Council/Wits University Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa Honorary Professor, African Health Research Institute, KwaZulu, Natal
| | - Linda S. Franck
- Department of Family Health Care Nursing, School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco, 2 Koret Way, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Fiona Alderdice
- Policy Research Unit in Maternal and Neonatal Health and Care, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, UK
- Corresponding author:-Fiona Alderdice, Policy Research Unit in Maternal and Neonatal Health and Care, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LF
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Abdelmageed RI, Youssef AM, El-Farrash RA, Mohamed HM, Abdelaziz AW. Measurement of Cumulative Preterm Neonatal and Maternal Stressors During Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Admission. J Pediatr Psychol 2021; 47:595-605. [PMID: 34865092 DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsab124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES By nature, the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) environment is stressful for both infants and mothers. This study aimed to explore and quantify the severity of early life stressors in premature infants admitted to the NICU and evaluate the effect of cumulative neonatal stressors on maternal mental health. METHODS This cross-sectional study included 100 preterm infants admitted to the NICU for at least 10 days. Daily experiences with painful/stressful procedures for 10 days were determined using the Neonatal Infant Stressor Scale. The included mothers were assessed for their psychological well-being 1 week after NICU admission using the Parental Stressor Scale: NICU and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. RESULTS During the first 10 days of NICU admission, preterm infants experienced an average of 350.76 ± 84.43 acute procedures and an average of 44.84 ± 11.12 cumulative hours of chronic events, with the highest scores recorded on first 3 days of admission. Although intravenous flushing for patency was the most frequent acute procedure, blood gas sampling was the most painful. Forty-five percent of the mothers showed significant depressive symptoms, with the maternal role alteration reported as the most stressful experience, especially for young and new mothers (p < .001). The cumulative stressors experienced by infants were significantly associated with elevated maternal perception of psychological maladjustment (p < .001). CONCLUSION This study confirmed that the NICU environment is stressful for both infants and mothers, with the total cumulative stressors experienced by preemies in the NICU having an negative impact on maternal mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Azza M Youssef
- Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt
| | | | | | - Asmaa W Abdelaziz
- Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt
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Yahya NFS, Teng NIMF, Shafiee N, Juliana N. Association between Breastfeeding Attitudes and Postpartum Depression among Mothers with Premature Infants during COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:10915. [PMID: 34682652 PMCID: PMC8535779 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Breastfeeding is the best form of feeding for premature infants. However, mothers with premature delivery are frequently reported to be depressed, and this has been especially the case during the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We aimed to measure the level of breastfeeding attitude and its association with postpartum depression among mothers with premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 248 mothers with a premature infant were observed in this cross-sectional study from the chosen NICUs of government hospitals in Selangor, Malaysia. The Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Score (IIFAS) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, along with sociodemographic questionnaires, were used to obtain information on the mothers' attitudes towards breastfeeding and the risk of postpartum depression. A higher percentage of mothers had a positive attitude towards breastfeeding (64.9%), with a mean IIFAS score of 66.30 ± 6.92. Meanwhile, about 27% of mothers with premature infants were reported to have high risk of depressive symptoms. Mothers with a high risk of depression were less likely to have a positive attitude towards breastfeeding (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.199, 0.675) as compared to mothers with a low risk of depression (p < 0.01). We found that there is an association between the risk of depression and the attitude towards breastfeeding. Early identification of maternal mental health problems should be addressed to ensure the willingness of mothers to continue breastfeeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noor Fairuzi Suhana Yahya
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Bandar Puncak Alam 42300, Selangor, Malaysia; (N.F.S.Y.); (N.S.)
| | - Nur Islami Mohd Fahmi Teng
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Bandar Puncak Alam 42300, Selangor, Malaysia; (N.F.S.Y.); (N.S.)
| | - Najwa Shafiee
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Bandar Puncak Alam 42300, Selangor, Malaysia; (N.F.S.Y.); (N.S.)
| | - Norsham Juliana
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai 71800, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia;
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Negarandeh R, Hassankhani H, Jabraeili M, Abbaszadeh M, Best A. Health care staff support for mothers in NICU: a focused ethnography study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:520. [PMID: 34289802 PMCID: PMC8296702 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-03991-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mothers of premature newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) have complex needs and require a significant amount of support during the NICU admission. However, little is known about mothers' support needs in the NICU. This study aimed to explore health care staff and mothers' experiences of meeting the mothers support needs in the NICU. This study aimed to explore health care staff and mothers' experiences of meeting the mothers' support needs in the NICU. METHODS A focused ethnographic approach was adopted. Observations and interviews with 21 mothers, 18 nurses, and five physicians were undertaken over a seven months period. Qualitative data analysis was conducted using the Roper and Shapira (2000) five-step framework. RESULT Two main themes of "insufficient provision of the mothers' support needs" (subthemes: inadequate accompany of the mothers in care, assigning monitoring and care to the mothers, inadequate sharing of medical the information) and "supporting the mothers in certain circumstances" (subthemes: reassuring the mothers, supporting the mothers with reduced functional capacity, providing information) were obtained. CONCLUSION The mothers experienced a gap between expected and actual support provided by health care staff. Although, the health care staff believed that mothers' support was a necessity, it was not their main concerns, and they considered workload as a barrier for the mothers support in the NICU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Negarandeh
- Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hadi Hassankhani
- Center of Qualitative Studies, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mahnaz Jabraeili
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Amy Best
- Campus Teacher, School of Nursing, Massey University Wellington, Wellington, Australia
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Surmeli Onay O, Sarilar TD, Taskiran Tepe H, Ozen H, Tekin N. The Relationship of Breastfeeding Patterns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to Maternal Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression. Breastfeed Med 2021; 16:251-257. [PMID: 33202190 DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2020.0223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Background: The studies related to psychiatric disorders have demonstrated high frequency of maternal stress, anxiety, and postpartum depression in mothers who have infants in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). It is well known that maternal anxiety and depression adversely affect breastfeeding. The research aims to examine the association between the anxiety and depressive symptom severity of NICU mothers and feeding type (exclusively breastfed [EBF] or mixed fed [MF]) of their infants within first week of life in NICU. Methods: Data were collected from 93 mothers and 105 infants in a single-center, prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study. The state-trait anxiety and depressive symptom severity of NICU mothers were evaluated using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI, including Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State [STAI-S], Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait [STAI-T]), and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Results: Breastfeeding exclusivity in NICU infants was significantly related to gestational age, birth weight, prenatal steroid, and assisted reproductive technology (ART; p = 0.022, 0.041, 0.028, 0.017, respectively). The comparison of STAI-S, STAI-T, and EPDS scores of NICU mothers between EBF and MF groups revealed that STAI-T score was significantly high in EBF group than that in the MF group (p = 0.019). Logistic regression analyses showed that a 1-unit increase in STAI-T score in NICU mothers was significantly associated with a 5.7% increase in the odds of breastfeeding exclusivity within first week in postpartum period (p = 0.033; odds ratio = 1.057, 95% confidence interval = 1.004-1.113). Conclusions: Contrary to estimates, clinically significant state and trait anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms of NICU mothers do not affect breastfeeding exclusivity negatively within first week of life in NICU. Preterm infants under 32 gestational weeks and infants born with ART have a tendency to being EBF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozge Surmeli Onay
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey
| | - Tevhide Derya Sarilar
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey
| | - Hacer Taskiran Tepe
- Department of Social Services, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Hospital, Eskisehir, Turkey
| | - Hulya Ozen
- Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey
| | - Neslihan Tekin
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey
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Lebel V, Charette S. Nursing Interventions to Reduce Stress in Families of Critical Care Patients: An Integrative Review. Crit Care Nurse 2021; 41:32-44. [PMID: 33560437 DOI: 10.4037/ccn2021188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Having a family member admitted to an intensive care unit is a stressful experience that may lead to psychological symptoms including depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. OBJECTIVE To better understand the phenomenon of stress experienced by families of intensive care unit patients and identify nursing interventions that may help reduce it. METHODS An integrative literature review was performed to identify principal stressors for families of patients receiving care in neonatal, pediatric, and adult intensive care units and recommended nursing interventions. RESULTS The principal stressors in the 3 types of intensive care units were change in parental role or family dynamics, appearance and behavior of the patient, the care setting, and communication with the health care staff. Nursing interventions should focus on valuing the role of family members in patient care, improving communication, and providing accurate information. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Family members of intensive care patients will benefit from nursing interventions that adequately acknowledge and address the stress they experience. CONCLUSION Nurses play a crucial role in helping to reduce the stress experienced by family members of intensive care unit patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Lebel
- Valérie Lebel is a professor, Department of Nursing, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sylvie Charette
- Sylvie Charette is a professor, Department of Nursing, Université du Québec en Outaouais
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A global perspective on parental stress in the neonatal intensive care unit: a meta-analytic study. J Perinatol 2020; 40:1739-1752. [PMID: 32901116 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-020-00798-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Revised: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS:NICU) is a well-validated tool to assess different sources of stress in parents during the NICU hospitalization of their infant. The present meta-analytic study assessed the relative impact of different NICU-related sources of parental stress in a pool of studies conducted in a wide set of different countries. Also, differences in stress levels by parent gender and country, as well as the impact of infants' neonatal characteristics and clinical conditions were explored. METHODS Records were searched on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (January 1993-December 2019). A purposive open search string was adopted: ["PSS:NICU"] OR ["PSS-NICU"] OR ["Parental Stressor Scale"]. A multiple random-effect meta-analysis was conducted on data from 53 studies extracted by independent coders. RESULTS Parental role alteration emerged as the greatest source of stress for both mothers and fathers. Mothers reported higher stress levels compared to fathers. A significant difference emerged only for the subscale related to sights and sounds physical stimuli. No significant effects of infants' neonatal characteristics (gestational age, birth weight) and clinical conditions (comorbidities) emerged. A marginal positive effect of NICU length of stay emerged on the global level of parents' stress. CONCLUSIONS The current meta-analysis underlines that parental stress related to NICU admission is a worldwide healthcare issue. Immediate and tailored support to parents after the birth of their at-risk infant should be prioritized to reduce parental stress and to promote mothers and fathers' emotional well-being and new-born neurodevelopmental outcomes.
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