TY - JOUR
T1 - Socio-demographic factors related to parent engagement in the NICU and the impact of the SENSE program
AU - Whitehill, Laura
AU - Smith, Joan
AU - Colditz, Graham
AU - Le, Tiffany
AU - Kellner, Polly
AU - Pineda, Roberta
N1 - Funding Information:
This project was supported by the Betty and Gordon Moore Foundation , the Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences grant UL1TR002345 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Institute of Health , and the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center at Washington University (NIH/National Institute of Child Health and Human Development P30 HD062171 ).
Funding Information:
Laura Whitehill was supported by the 2018 Summer Research Program of the Institute for Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis funded by the Global Health Center at the Institute for Public Health , Children's Discovery Institute of Washington University and St. Louis Children's Hospital, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Charitable Giving Program.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - Background: Early parent engagement in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is important for both parent and infant mental health and for improving developmental outcomes. It remains unclear how different programs, such as the Supporting and Enhancing NICU Sensory Experiences (SENSE) program, may empower parents from various socio-demographic groups to engage in the NICU. An improved understanding could aid in individualizing interventions for those at the highest risk for health disparities. Aims: This exploratory study, which was part of a larger study, sought to explore 1) socio-demographic factors related to parent presence and engagement in the NICU and 2) if the SENSE program related to increased parent presence and engagement among different socio-demographic groups. Methods: Seventy parent-infant dyads (born ≤ 32 weeks gestation) were randomized to SENSE programming (parent education and age-appropriate, positive sensory interventions for parents to conduct with their infants every day of hospitalization) or standard care after admission to the NICU. The amount of parent presence and participation in sensory activities was tracked using bedside logs, nursing records, and research team documentation. Results: Being married (p = 0.048; p = 0.01), having private insurance (p < 0.001; p = 0.01), and having fewer children (p = 0.004; p = 0.03) related to more parent presence and engagement respectively. Parents who were Black had less presence and engagement in the NICU (p = 0.04; p = 0.02). Participation in the SENSE program was related to more parent presence and engagement among younger mothers (p = 0.002; p ≤0.001) and among parents living farther distances from the hospital (p < 0.001; p = 0.004). Conclusion: Programming, such as the SENSE program, can improve parent engagement in the NICU among high-risk groups.
AB - Background: Early parent engagement in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is important for both parent and infant mental health and for improving developmental outcomes. It remains unclear how different programs, such as the Supporting and Enhancing NICU Sensory Experiences (SENSE) program, may empower parents from various socio-demographic groups to engage in the NICU. An improved understanding could aid in individualizing interventions for those at the highest risk for health disparities. Aims: This exploratory study, which was part of a larger study, sought to explore 1) socio-demographic factors related to parent presence and engagement in the NICU and 2) if the SENSE program related to increased parent presence and engagement among different socio-demographic groups. Methods: Seventy parent-infant dyads (born ≤ 32 weeks gestation) were randomized to SENSE programming (parent education and age-appropriate, positive sensory interventions for parents to conduct with their infants every day of hospitalization) or standard care after admission to the NICU. The amount of parent presence and participation in sensory activities was tracked using bedside logs, nursing records, and research team documentation. Results: Being married (p = 0.048; p = 0.01), having private insurance (p < 0.001; p = 0.01), and having fewer children (p = 0.004; p = 0.03) related to more parent presence and engagement respectively. Parents who were Black had less presence and engagement in the NICU (p = 0.04; p = 0.02). Participation in the SENSE program was related to more parent presence and engagement among younger mothers (p = 0.002; p ≤0.001) and among parents living farther distances from the hospital (p < 0.001; p = 0.004). Conclusion: Programming, such as the SENSE program, can improve parent engagement in the NICU among high-risk groups.
KW - Development
KW - Health disparities
KW - Neonatal intensive care unit
KW - Parent engagement
KW - Sensory interventions
KW - Socio-demographic
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85117749343&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2021.105486
DO - 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2021.105486
M3 - Article
C2 - 34715530
AN - SCOPUS:85117749343
SN - 0378-3782
VL - 163
JO - Early Human Development
JF - Early Human Development
M1 - 105486
ER -