Psychosocial parental support programs and short-term clinical outcomes in extremely low-birth-weight infants

Abstract

Objective. To describe the association between an individualized psychosocial parental support (PPS) program and short-term clinical outcomes of extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Methods. Medical records of ELBW infants (<1000 g) hospitalized in the NICU at Miami Children's Hospital between July 2006 and June 2008 were reviewed. Outborn infants admitted during their first 72 h of life and discharged home were included. Parents were divided in two groups according to their participation status in the PPS program. Neonatal outcomes in both groups were compared.

Results. Forty-one infants were included (n = 41). Mean gestational age was 26.7±2 weeks, and birth weight was 860±125 g. Median length of stay (LOS) was 96 days (quartile range: 76–112 days). PPS was provided to 33.3% of these infants' parents. The median LOS in the PPS group was significantly lower than in control group (86 vs. 99 days; p < 0.05). No other differences in short-term neonatal outcomes were found.

Conclusions. The addition of individualized psychosocial parent support programs to standard care in the NICU may reduce LOS in surviving infants discharged home. Further larger and randomized prospective studies are needed.

Keywords::

• Parental support programs
• NICU psychological interventions
• parental involvement
• length of stay
• preterm infants

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.