The main goal of this research is to help mothers with depression and anxiety to cope and bond with their baby. The next goal is to provide resources to help with household needs like food, rent, or utility assistance, health insurance. Our theory is that helping with food insecurity, household needs, and emotional health will help children and families.
The purpose of this study is to support families of children who are hospitalized. Participants will be asked to complete a survey regarding resources that may enhance caregiver wellbeing. These resources are intended to also support the health and developmental potential of the hospitalized child. There is a small risk of loss of confidentiality associated with participation in the research; however, the investigators have implemented multiple safeguards to protect participant information. There is no guarantee of direct benefit from participation. If a need for resources is identified, participants may be referred to hospital-based food resources or a local food bank, which could be beneficial. Additionally, many mothers of hospitalized children experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. A program is available within the hospital that includes access to a specialist and supportive resources for those experiencing such feelings. The findings from this study may inform future efforts to assist caregivers more effectively. Participation in this research is voluntary, and individuals may instead request a social work consultation to determine eligibility for available resources without enrolling in the study.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
200
Texas Children's Hospital
Houston, Texas, United States
Feasibility of Intervention Implementation
Assessed by the proportion of eligible participants who enroll and complete the intervention protocol. Unit of Measure: Percentage of participants completing the intervention.
Time frame: 12 months
Acceptability of Intervention
Measured using the Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM), a validated 4-item Likert scale assessing participant perceptions of the intervention. Unit of Measure: Mean AIM score (range: 1-5).
Time frame: 12 months
Caregiver Mental Health Outcomes
Evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale for anxiety. Unit of Measure: Mean scores on PHQ-9 and GAD-7.
Time frame: 12 months
Caregiver-Infant Bonding and Nurture
Assessed using the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) to evaluate caregiver-infant bonding. Unit of Measure: Mean PBQ score.
Time frame: 12 months
Addressing Non-Medical Drivers of Health
Measured by the number of referrals made to food, housing, or mental health resources and the proportion of participants who accessed at least one referred service. Unit of Measure: Count of referrals and percentage of participants accessing services.
Time frame: 12 months
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