Preterm infants are at high risk of developmental delay or disabilities and they do benefit from early intervention programs. Many programs aiming at improving preterm infants' developmental outcome have been proposed with mixed results. In low to middle-income countries, clinically relevant and effective low cost interventions empowering parents have yet to be established.
Education and intervention programs targeting parents of premature infants are lacking in low to middle income countries (LMIC) and in Arabic countries in particular. The main concept of this proposal is to develop a program in Arabic for parents of premature infants with the aim to increase their knowledge about short and long term problems of prematurity, increase their involvement in the care during their stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and promote responsive and sensitive parenting in the NICU and after discharge. This is to empower parents and have them become active contributors to enhancing their infant's development through play activities and tracking of developmental milestones.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
72
1. Educational sessions and coaching on infants' behavior cues 2. Skills on motor stimulation 3. Written instructions for play and stimulation activities at discharge 4. Multidisciplinary follow-up 5. Developmental tracking and advice via a mobile app
American University of Beirut
Beirut, Hamra, Lebanon
Child developmental outcome
The developmental outcome of preterm children will be assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire at 9 months of corrected age. The ASQ-3 covers 5 area of child development : Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Problem Solving, Personal-Social, Communication. Scores for each area should range between minimum 0 and maximum 60. Higher scores indicate that the child is developing properly.
Time frame: 9 months
Physiological state- Respiratory rate
Physiological parameters including respiratory rate will be retrieved from the bedside monitors.
Time frame: 1 year
Physiological state - Oxygen saturation
Physiological parameters including oxygen saturation will be retrieved from the bedside monitors.
Time frame: 1 year
Neurobehavioral state
Behavioral state will be assessed by a cerified trained developmental specialist using a 7-point score that include: (i) Quiet/deep sleep, (ii) Active sleep, (iii) Awake State, (iv) drowsy, (v) quiet alert, (vi) active alert, (vii) crying
Time frame: 1 year
Parental Knowledge assessment
Parental knowledge assessment test will be administered before and after the education sessions using 10 true/false questions regarding topics addressed in the sessions.
Time frame: Before hospital discharge
Parental stress
The Arabic parenting stress index short form questionnaire will be used. The PSI-SF is a self-administered questionnaire and consists of 36 items divided into three subscales of 12 items each: parental distress, parent-child dysfunctional interaction and difficult child. For each subscales scores ranges should be between 12 and 60. For the total stress score , the minimum score is 36 and the maximum is 180. Higher scores mean more depressive symptoms.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: 1 year
Behavioral parenting activities
A questionnaire derived from the UNICEF MICS 6 questionnaire will be used. MICS or "MULTIPLE INDICATOR CLUSTER SURVEY" is a tool used to assess the activities of parents with their infants.
Time frame: 1 year
Parents perceptions
The Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy questionnaire is a standardized valid and reliable instrument to assess parent's perceptions of their ability to care for their infants. PMP-SE is composed of 20 items divided into four subscales: care taking procedures, evoking behaviours, reading behaviours or signalling, and situational beliefs. Those items are formulated as statements using a five-point Likert scale. Scoring ranges from 20 to 80 where a higher score indicates a higher self-efficacy.
Time frame: 1 year