Randomised trial of a parenting intervention during neonatal intensive care.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence of parenting intervention on maternal responsiveness and infant neurobehavioural development following a very premature birth.


METHODS
Cluster-randomised controlled trial, with a crossover design and three-month washout period.


METHODS
Six neonatal intensive care units.


METHODS
Infants born <32 weeks' gestation.


METHODS
The Parent Baby Interaction Programme (PBIP) is a supportive, educational intervention delivered by research nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit, with optional home follow-up for up to six weeks after discharge.


METHODS
Parenting stress at 3 months adjusted age, as measured by the Parenting Stress Index (PSI). Other outcomes included the Neurobehavioural Assessment of the Preterm Infant (NAPI) and maternal interaction as assessed by the Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scale (NCATS) and the responsivity subscale for Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME).


RESULTS
112 infants were recruited in the intervention phases and 121 in the control phases. Mean standardised NAPI scores at 35 weeks did not differ between the PBIP and control groups. Both groups had low but similar NCATS caregiver scores before discharge (36.6 in the PBIP group and 37.4 in control, adjusted mean difference -0.7, 95% CI -2.7 to 1.4). At three months, adjusted age mean PSI scores for the PBIP group were 71.9 compared with 67.1 for controls (adjusted mean difference 3.8, 95% CI -4.7 to 12.4). NCATS scores and HOME responsivity scores were similarly distributed between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This early, nurse-delivered, parent-focused interaction programme intervention had no measurable effects on short-term infant neurobehavioural function, mother-child interaction or parenting stresses.
Glazebrook
Cris
C
Division of Psychiatry, School of Community Health Sciences, A Floor, South Block, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK. cris.glazebrook@nottingham.ac.uk
Marlow
Neil
N
Israel
Christine
C
Croudace
Tim
T
Johnson
Samantha
S
White
Ian R
IR
Whitelaw
Andrew
A
D000328:Adult; D002657:Child Development; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022143:Family Nursing; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006113:United Kingdom