The current state of knowledge reveals that the development of the brain of preterm infants is influenced by specific neonatal experiences during hospitalization, such as environmental sensory stimulation (light and noise), as well as physical and emotional proximity to mothers. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the benefits that could be associated with the combination of care interventions to improve the health outcomes of preterm infants and their mothers, and in particular the development of the brain of infants during their hospitalization in the neonatal unit. The aim of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a developmental care intervention including periods of nurturing between mothers and their infant (skin-to-skin contact and auditory stimulation) to promote physical and emotional proximity and a quiet period (controlled light and noise levels and olfactory stimulation in incubators) and to estimate the effect of this intervention on infants' neurodevelopment as well as on maternal stress and anxiety.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
24
SSC session lasting 2-hr during the day 4 times/wk including a 15-min of auditory stimulation with maternal voice and controlled levels of NICU light and noise followed by a 1-hr quiet period where infants will rest in their incubator/crib with olfactory stimulation and where the control of light and noise levels will be continued.
CHU Sainte-Justine
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Feasibility and acceptability of the NeuroN-QI and the study procedures as assessed by a self-completed questionnaire (mothers) and a logbook (RA)
questionnaire completed by mothers - each question treated separately (no total score) Log book completed by a research assistant
Time frame: 1 year
Estimated effects of NeuroN-QI on infants' neurodevelopment as assessed using the Assessment of Preterm Infants Behavior (APIB)
Observation scale by videos
Time frame: 1 year
Estimated effects of NeuroN-QI on infants' neurodevelopment as assessed using the General Movements Assessment (GMA)
Observation by videos
Time frame: 1 year
Estimated effects of NeuroN-QI on maternal stress as assessed by PSS:NICU
Time frame: 1 year
Estimated effects of NeuroN-QI on maternal anxiety as assessed by STAI-Y
Time frame: 1 year
Nurses' training needs about the NeuroN-QI as assessed by a self-completed questionnaire
Questionnaire completed by nurses - each question treated separately from strongly disagree to totally strongly agree (no total score)
Time frame: 1 year
Acceptability of the NeuroN-QI as assessed by a self-completed questionnaire
questionnaire completed by nurses - each question treated separately from totally acceptable to totally unacceptable (no total score)
Time frame: 1 year
Feasibility of the NeuroN-QI as assessed by a self-completed questionnaire
questionnaire completed by nurses - each question treated separately from totally feasible to totally unfeasible (no total score)
Time frame: 1 year
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