Journal writing as a social support strategy for parents of premature infants: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Having a premature baby is acknowledged to be stressful to parents. Journal writing combines practical, emotional and informational support that may be useful to these parents.


METHODS
We conducted a study to assess the potential for promoting journal-writing for parents receiving social support in a special care nursery (SCN). Parents were provided with educational material on journal writing, and subsequently surveyed concerning their journal-writing during their child's hospitalization.


RESULTS
Of the 73 parents enrolled, 32% kept a journal; of these, 73% felt it helped considerably in reducing stress, and 68% used it as a means of addressing the most stressful elements of their nursery experience. Journals were used primarily to document involvement in care (45%), record-keeping (36%), and organization of thoughts (27%). All of those who kept a journal recommended it for use by other parents.


CONCLUSIONS
Encouraging parents to keep a journal is a constructive way of dealing with the SCN-related stress.
Macnab
A J
AJ
British Columbia's Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada. amacnab@wpog.childhosp.bc.ca
Beckett
L Y
LY
Park
C C
CC
Sheckter
L
L
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D014956:Writing