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Sleep in parents of preterm infants: A systematic review
Summer Haddad1, Cindy-Lee Dennis2, Prakesh S Shah3
1Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Parents of preterm infants experience poor sleep quantity and quality, impacting family health. Further research is needed to identify at-risk parents and develop interventions for better sleep.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Care
- Maternal Health
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Sleep disruption in the first postpartum year is linked to negative health outcomes, including postpartum depression.
- Parents of preterm infants may face greater sleep disruption, but this area lacks critical review.
- Understanding sleep patterns is crucial for maternal and infant well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize existing literature on sleep quantity and quality in parents of preterm infants.
- To identify factors influencing sleep for parents during infant hospitalization and post-discharge.
- To provide a comprehensive overview of sleep challenges faced by this vulnerable population.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of multiple databases (Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, Cochrane).
- Inclusion of both quantitative and qualitative studies published up to February 2017.
- Data extraction by two independent reviewers using a customized form.
Main Results:
- 16 studies (18 reports) met inclusion criteria; 4 compared parents of preterm vs. full-term infants.
- Mothers of preterm infants averaged 6.3 hours of sleep/day in the early postpartum period.
- Poor subjective sleep quality was common, with parental stress identified as a key influencing factor.
Conclusions:
- Parents of preterm infants experience inadequate sleep quantity and quality, potentially harming family health.
- Further research is essential to identify at-risk parents and inform clinical interventions.
- Targeted strategies are needed to improve sleep for parents of preterm infants.
Background:
Sleep disruption during the first postpartum year is associated with several negative health outcomes including postpartum depression. Such disruption may be a greater issue for parents of preterm neonates, yet literature on this subject has not been critically reviewed.
Objective:
To synthesize literature on sleep quantity, sleep quality, and factors influencing sleep among parents of preterm infants during infant hospitalization and following discharge.
Design:
A systematic review.
Data Sources:
Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched from their inception to February 2017.
Methods:
Potentially eligible citations were reviewed by two independent reviewers. Both quantitative and qualitative studies were eligible for inclusion. Data on eligible studies and review outcomes were extracted using a customized form.
Findings:
Eighteen reports from 16 studies met inclusion criteria. Four studies included a control group of parents of full-term infants. Three studies reported sleep quantity means, of which only one provided values for an exclusive sample of mothers of preterm infants and found on average, mothers obtained 6.3 h of sleep/day in the first 5-10 days. Twelve studies reported on sleep quality; most (n = 10) relied on self-reported measures and identified poor subjective sleep quality whereas two studies objectively measured sleep of poor quality. Parental stress was the most consistent factor associated with sleep quality.
Conclusion And Implications:
Quality and quantity of sleep among parents of preterm infants is inadequate and may negatively influence family health outcomes. Further research on correlates and changes in sleep is required to identify at-risk parents and inform targeted clinical recommendations and interventions aimed at maximizing sleep for parents of preterm infants.
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