An intervention program for families with irritable infants.
OBJECTIVE
To describe and evaluate a home-based nursing intervention program, the REST routine, which incorporates the use of infant behavior assessment, pattern recognition, individualized infant schedules, specific management strategies, and parent education and support.


METHODS
A two-site clinical trial was conducted on 164 healthy full-term infants with excessive unexplained irritability or colic. Infants between the ages of 2 to 6 weeks were randomized to routine care or a home-based intervention program (n = 121). A third group (n = 43) of infants too old at entry for randomization (mean age = 10.4 weeks) were entered into a posttest-only group.


RESULTS
Infants in the REST routine treatment group cried 1.3 hours per day on average following the intervention program as compared to the control group crying 3 hours per day (p = .02). Infant irritability was resolved (< 1 hour) in 62% of the treatment group while only in 29% of the control group at the time of the 8-week follow-up visit (p = .04).


CONCLUSIONS
Families in both the treatment and control groups reported benefiting from a nurse visiting in their home to inquire about their infant and their well-being. Options for individualizing the program for those most in need of intensive home visiting and other delivery modes for the intervention are areas for further investigation.
Keefe
Maureen R
MR
University of Utah College of Nursing, Salt Lake City, USA. Maureen.keefe@nurs.utah.edu
Barbosa
Gail A
GA
Froese-Fretz
Ann
A
Kotzer
Anne Marie
AM
Lobo
Marie
M
D003448:Crying; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007508:Irritable Mood; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D016896:Treatment Outcome