Socio-demographic factors related to parent engagement in the NICU and the impact of the SENSE program

Laura Whitehill; Joan Smith; Graham Colditz; Tiffany Le; Polly Kellner; Roberta Pineda

doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2021.105486

Socio-demographic factors related to parent engagement in the NICU and the impact of the SENSE program

Early Hum Dev. 2021 Dec:163:105486. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2021.105486. Epub 2021 Oct 14.

Authors

Laura Whitehill¹, Joan Smith², Graham Colditz³, Tiffany Le⁴, Polly Kellner⁵, Roberta Pineda⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland; Institute for Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
² Department of Quality, Safety and Practice Excellence, St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, MO, USA.
³ Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
⁴ Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
⁵ Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁶ Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Gehr Family Center for Health Systems Science and Innovation, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Center for the Changing Family, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address: pinedaro@usc.edu.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Development; Health disparities; Neonatal intensive care unit; Parent engagement; Sensory interventions; Socio-demographic.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Gestational Age
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal*
Parents* / psychology
Sociodemographic Factors

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding