Effectiveness of interventions during NICU hospitalization on the neurodevelopment of preterm infants: a systematic review protocol

The relationship between neonatal stress in preterm infants and developmental outcomes at the corrected age of 24-30 months

Aim

The aim of research was to study the relationship between the stress experienced by preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and developmental status in the follow up, and to establish factors, associated with their neurodevelopment.

Methods

The first stage of research involved measuring stress markers (cortisol, melatonin) in infants (n = 56) during their NICU stay; the second phase assessed the developmental status at the corrected age of 24-30 months.

Results

The total ASQ-3 score, communication, problem solving, and personal-social skills scores at the corrected age of 24-30 months were positively correlated with melatonin level determined in the neonatal period (r = 0.31, p = 0.026; r = 0.36, p = 0.009; r = 0.30, p = 0.033, and r = 0.32; p = 0.022 respectively). In the same time, ASQ-3 communication and personal-social scores were negatively correlated with cortisol level (r = -0.31, p = 0.043; r = -0.35, p = 0.022). The ROC-curve analysis revealed that a decrease of melatonin below 3.44 ng/mL and 3.71 ng/mL during the neonatal period could predict communication and problem-solving delay, respectively. An increase in cortisol above 0.64 mcg/dl is predictive in personal-social delay. Negative correlation was identified between the NICU and total hospital stay duration and ASQ-3 communication scores in the follow-up (r = -0.27; p = 0.049 and r = -0.41; p = 0.002, respectively). The duration of mechanical ventilation was negatively correlated with gross motor scores (r = -0.46; p = 0.043). Apgar score was positively correlated with ASQ-3 communication (r = 0.29; p = 0.032) and personal-social scores (r = 0.28; p = 0.034); maternal age-with ASQ-3 total (r = 0.29; p = 0.034), communication (r = 0.37; p = 0.006), and personal-social scores (r = 0.29; p = 0.041). Positive correlations were observed between gestational age and communication scores (r = 0.28; p = 0.033). Infants who suffered neonatal sepsis had significantly often delay of communication (p = 0.014) and gross motor skills (p = 0.016). Children who required mechanical ventilation were more likely to have communication delay (p = 0.034).

Conclusion

Developmental outcomes in preterm infants at the corrected age of 24-30 months were associated with neonatal stress. Correlations between the communication, problem-solving and personal-social development in the follow up and cortisol and melatonin levels determined in the neonatal period supported this evidence. Factors as low gestational age, duration of hospital and NICU stay, mechanical ventilation, and sepsis were associated with more frequent delays in communication, gross motor and problems-solving skills.

The Effect of Incubator Cover on Newborn Vital Signs: The Design of Repeated Measurements in Two Separate Groups with No Control Group

(1) Background: During their stays in neonatal intensive care units (NICU), newborns are exposed to many stimuli that disrupt their physiological indicators. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the light-dark cycle created with and without an incubator cover on the vital signs of term and preterm newborns. (2) Methods: A repeated measures design was used in the study utilizing two separate groups, without a control group. The study included 91 neonates hospitalized in a NICU (44 term and 47 preterm). With and without an incubator cover, the newborns' vital signs (heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), oxygen saturation (SpO₂), and body temperature (BT)) were measured. Three separate measurements were taken. (3) Results: The mean age of the newborns was 37.0 weeks. There was no significant difference between the HR and RR medians of the term and preterms in the incubator undraped and clad measurements (p > 0.05). At the first measurement, the SpO₂ medians of the incubator-covered term and preterms were significantly higher than those of the incubator-covered term and preterms (p = 0.001). (4) Conclusions: The vital signs of the neonates demonstrated variable responses in the measurements when their incubators were covered vs. when they were not covered. However, more research on the effect of the light-dark cycle on their vital signs is required.

The Effect of Supportive-Educational Interventions on Stress and Adaptation to Maternal Role: A Quasi-Experimental Study

BACKGROUND

Preterm delivery is a stressful event and stress can affect adaptation to maternal role. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of supportive-educational interventions on stress and adaptation to the maternal role among women with premature infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit.

METHODS

This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 60 women with premature infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit. A control group (n = 30) was initially selected from eligible female participants. Sampling was stopped for three weeks and then the intervention group was sampled. The entire sampling process was carried out from December 2018 to June 2019. The control group received usual care at the hospital and the intervention group (n = 30) received three sessions of supportive-educational intervention in addition to routine care. Data were collected through the perceived stress and the maternal role adaptation questionnaires completed by both groups at the time of infant discharge, and also at the follow-up period (one month after discharge).

RESULTS

The results showed that maternal stress score changed considerably over time and a significant difference between the two groups was observed (P < 0.05). Additionally, adaptation to the maternal role changed substantially over time and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The supportive-educational program reduced the stress of mothers with premature infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit and increased their adaptation to the maternal role.

Effects of Family Nurture Intervention in the NICU on Theory of Mind Abilities in Children Born Very Preterm: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Preterm infants are at risk for socioemotional deficits, neurodevelopmental disorders, and potentially theory of mind (ToM) deficits. Preterm infants enrolled in a randomized controlled trial in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) received Standard Care (SC) or Family Nurture Intervention (FNI). Children (N = 72; median age 61.8 ± 2.6 months; FNI: 35 (55%), SC:2 9 (45%)) completed a ToM task, of whom 64 (54% male; born to White (43.8%), Black (18.7%), and Hispanic (25.0%) mothers) contributed to this analysis. FNI and SC infants born extremely preterm to very preterm differed significantly: 78% (14 of 18) of FNI children passed vs. 30% (3 of 10) SC children (p = 0.01, effect size = 1.06). This large effect size suggests that FNI in the NICU may ameliorate deficits in social-cognitive skills of extreme to very preterm infants by school age.

Development and validation of a self-reported questionnaire to assess occupational balance in parents of preterm infants

Background

Parents’ meaningful activities (occupations) and occupational balance are relevant to neonatal care. Valid and reliable self-reported measurement instruments are needed to assess parents’ occupational balance and to evaluate occupational balance interventions in neonatal care. The aims of this study were to develop a self-reported questionnaire on occupational balance in informal caregivers (OBI-Care) and to examine its measurement properties including construct validity and internal consistency.

Methods and findings

A mixed method multicenter study design was employed. Items of the OBI-Care were created with parents of preterm infants based on qualitative research methods. Measurement properties were analyzed with quantitative data of parents of preterm infants. Construct validity was assessed by determining dimensionality, overall and item fit to a Rasch model, differential item functioning and threshold ordering. Internal consistency was examined by determining inter-item and item-total correlations, Cronbach’s alpha and Rasch’s person separation index. Fourteen parents participated in item creation. Measurement properties were explored in data of 304 parents. Twenty-two items, summarized in three subscales were compiled to the OBI-Care. Items showed an overall fit and except one item, an item fit to the Rasch model. There was no evidence of differential item functioning and all items displayed ordered thresholds. Each subscale had good values of person separation indices and Cronbach’s alpha.

Conclusions

The OBI-Care demonstrates construct validity and internal consistency and is thus a suitable measurement instrument to assess occupational balance of parents of preterm infants in neonatal care. OBI-Care is generic and can be applied in various health care settings.

Effectiveness of interventions on early neurodevelopment of preterm infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

As preterm infants' neurodevelopment is shaped by NICU-related factors during their hospitalization, it is essential to evaluate which interventions are more beneficial for their neurodevelopment at this specific time. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions initiated during NICU hospitalization on preterm infants' early neurodevelopment during their hospitalization and up to two weeks corrected age (CA).

METHODS

This systematic review referred to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses [PRISMA] guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42017047072). We searched CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE (OVID), Cochrane Systematic Reviews, CENTRAL, and Web of Science from 2002 to February 2020 and included randomized controlled/clinical trials conducted with preterm infants born between 24 and 366/7 weeks of gestation. All types of interventions instigated during NICU hospitalization were included. Two independent reviewers performed the study selection, data extraction, assessment of risks of bias and quality of evidence.

RESULTS

Findings of 12 studies involving 901 preterm infants were synthesized. We combined three studies in a meta-analysis showing that compared to standard care, the NIDCAP intervention is effective in improving preterm infants' neurobehavioral and neurological development at two weeks CA. We also combined two other studies in a meta-analysis indicating that parental participation did not significantly improve preterm infants' neurobehavioral development during NICU hospitalization. For all other interventions (i.e., developmental care, sensory stimulation, music and physical therapy), the synthesis of results shows that compared to standard care or other types of comparators, the effectiveness was either controversial or partially effective.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall quality of evidence was rated low to very low. Future studies are needed to identify interventions that are the most effective in promoting preterm infants' early neurodevelopment during NICU hospitalization or close to term age. Interventions should be appropriately designed to allow comparison with previous studies and a combination of different instruments could provide a more global assessment of preterm infants' neurodevelopment and thus allow for comparisons across studies.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Prospero CRD42017047072 .

Reliability and accuracy of EEG interpretation for estimating age in preterm infants

OBJECTIVES

To determine the accuracy of, and agreement among, EEG and aEEG readers' estimation of maturity and a novel computational measure of functional brain age (FBA) in preterm infants.

METHODS

Seven experts estimated the postmenstrual ages (PMA) in a cohort of recordings from preterm infants using cloud-based review software. The FBA was calculated using a machine learning-based algorithm. Error analysis was used to determine the accuracy of PMA assessments and intraclass correlation (ICC) was used to assess agreement between experts.

RESULTS

EEG recordings from a PMA range 25 to 38 weeks were successfully interpreted. In 179 recordings from 62 infants interpreted by all human readers, there was moderate agreement between experts (aEEG ICC = 0.724; 95%CI:0.658-0.781 and EEG ICC = 0.517; 95%CI:0.311-0.664). In 149 recordings from 61 infants interpreted by all human readers and the FBA algorithm, random and systematic errors in visual interpretation of PMA were significantly higher than the computational FBA estimate. Tracking of maturation in individual infants showed stable FBA trajectories, but the trajectories of the experts' PMA estimate were more likely to be obscured by random errors. The accuracy of visual interpretation of PMA estimation was compromised by neurodevelopmental outcome for both aEEG and EEG review.

INTERPRETATION

Visual assessment of infant maturity is possible from the EEG or aEEG, with an average of human experts providing the highest accuracy. Tracking PMA of individual infants was hampered by errors in experts' estimates. FBA provided the most accurate maturity assessment and has potential as a biomarker of early outcome.

Attachment and relationship-based interventions for families during neonatal intensive care hospitalization: a study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Attachment in the parent-infant dyads is fundamental for growth and development of children born prematurely. However, the natural process of attachment is interrupted just after preterm birth, and emotional and physical detachment, limited social interaction, and a traumatic, technologically heavy environment in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may result in impaired attachment or bonding. To our knowledge, few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of interventions aimed at enhancing attachment, bonding, and relationships between parents and their preterm infants during the infant's hospitalization in the NICU. This study aims to perform a comprehensive systematic review and a meta-analysis survey of the effects of attachment- and relationship-based interventions in the NICU.

METHOD

A comprehensive literature review will be conducted in the following databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, EMBASE (OVID), Scopus, PsycINFO (OVID), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Web of Science. Selected studies will be published in English, in the last 20 years, from 1999 onwards. All studies of randomized controlled trials (e.g., parallel groups, cluster) will be included. We will consider studies evaluating attachment- and relationship-based interventions (e.g., skin-to-skin contact, parental involvement in infant care) versus a comparator (standard of care). The primary outcome will be maternal attachment. Secondary outcomes will include infants' growth and development, family health, and parenting experience. Data extraction from eligible studies will be conducted independently by two experts who will compare their data. The Cochrane risk of bias tool will be applied to the selected studies. If data permits, we will conduct random effects meta-analysis where appropriate. Subgroup and additional analyses will be conducted to explore the potential sources of heterogeneity considering gender of parents, infants' sex, and gestational age. Data synthesis will be carried out using the RevMan 5.3 software. Publication bias will be assessed with the graphical funnel plot method and the Egger test. The quality of the evidence will be rated using the methods of the Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Working Group.

DISCUSSION

The results of this systematic review will discuss the types of attachment- or relationship-based interventions that are effective for facilitating family health outcomes and the babies' growth and development and will contribute to establishing new evidence in neonatal and family-centered care by providing scientific guidance for clinical practice and further research.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42019145834.

Effects of Developmental Care on Neurodevelopment of Preterm Infants

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study protocol is to systematically review the literature to examine the effects of developmental care on preterm infants' neurodevelopment in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

MATERIALS & METHODS

Studies will be retrieved through searching the following databases: Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE (Ovid), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), CINAHL (EBSCO), and Scopus. Randomized controlled trials will be included with randomization at either individual or cluster level. The primary outcome will be to evaluate the effect of developmental care on the mental and motor development of NICU neonates. The secondary outcome will be neonatal weight gain and length of stay during NICU hospitalization. The assessment tool for the development should be the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, in any of the first, second and third editions. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) will be employed to identify relevant articles and report the screening process. The agreement between two experts in developmental neonatology will be reached in selecting all studies. Afterward, data will be extracted and compared by two reviewers. Any discrepancies in the extracted data will be discussed to reach a consensus. The extracted data will be imported to Review Manager 5.3 by one reviewer. Finally, the risk of bias for all selected studies will be independently evaluated by two reviewers using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. A meta-analysis will be performed to assess the possible quantitative impact of developmental interventions on the desired primary and secondary objectives. A random effect will be used if the I-square statistics is equal or more than 75%; otherwise, a fixed effect will be applied. Publication bias will be assessed using Egger's test and illustration with the funnel plot. The Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval will be estimated through Metan command in STATA 14. The method provided in the Cochrane handbook will be used in this statistical analysis. The significance level will be 0.05.

Effect of Preterm Infant Massage by the Mother on the Mood of Mothers Having Preterm Infants

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of preterm infant massage by the mother on the mood state of mothers of preterm infants.

Methods

This experimental study assessed 52 mothers of preterm infants (born at 30-37 weeks of gestation) hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit of Afzalipour Hospital of Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Recruitment was done using the convenience sampling method, and participants were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, massage therapy was done once a day for 5 consecutive days. Infants in the control group received the usual care. Data were collected using a questionnaire of demographic information and the Profile of Mood State questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 19 (IBM Corp, Armonk, New York) and Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, Wilcoxon, and χ² tests.

Results

Comparison of the mothers' mean mood scores between the intervention and control groups showed no significant difference before the intervention (P = .51), whereas mean scores differed significantly after the intervention between the groups (P = .005). Mothers' mean mood scores improved significantly in the control group (P = .02) and the intervention group (P < .001), whereas the intervention group showed a greater improvement (-4.155 vs -2.238).

Conclusion

Those mothers performing massage on their preterm infants showed greater improvement in their mood compared with those in the control group. Teaching massage to the mothers of these infants could be considered as a possible intervention to enhance a mother's mood and the quality of care she provides to her infant.