Measuring preterm cumulative stressors within the NICU: the Neonatal Infant Stressor Scale

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Pediatric stress research
• Clinical psychology

Background:

• Stress is common in hospitalized preterm infants but often unmanaged.
• Painful experiences are more frequently addressed than stressful ones.
• Effective stress management tools are needed for this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the perceived severity of common stressors for preterm infants.
• To develop a tool for managing presumed accumulated infant stress.
• To inform clinical practice regarding neonatal stress.

Main Methods:

• Surveyed 17 doctors and 130 nurses in Neonatal Intensive and Special Care Nurseries.
• Rated perceived stress severity of 44 acute events and 24 chronic conditions.
• Assessed stress across three preterm infant age groups (<28, 28-32, >32 weeks post-conceptional age) and for clinicians.

Main Results:

• Most items were perceived as stressful to infants by clinicians.
• Perceived infant stress levels were consistent across different infant ages.
• Clinician-perceived infant stress was inversely related to clinician age.

Conclusions:

• Developed the Neonatal Infant Stressor Scale (NISS).
• The NISS aids in tracking, measuring, and managing presumed accumulated stress in preterm neonates.
• Provides a standardized method for assessing neonatal stress exposure.