Empowering Parents Through Targeted Journaling to Promote Engagement and Reduce Stress
Erik VerHage1, Meredith Joseph, Leslie Parker
1Author Affiliations: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida (Drs VerHage, Joseph, and Berg); Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science, College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (Dr Parker); Division of Palliative Care, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida (Dr Cattier); and Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (Dr Gao).
Insights
A structured parental journal significantly shortened neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stays for parents of preterm infants. The journal improved parents' comfort taking their baby home and their overall NICU experience.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Parental mental health
- Psychological interventions
Background:
- Parents of preterm infants in the NICU face significant psychological stress.
- This stress can negatively affect parental well-being and infant development.
- There is a need for accessible, low-cost interventions to support parents in the NICU.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that a structured parental journal enhances parental mental well-being and engagement.
- To evaluate the impact of a structured journal on parental stress and engagement in the NICU setting.
Main Methods:
- A pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted with parents of very preterm infants.
- Parents were randomized to receive a structured journal or routine NICU care.
- Outcomes included parental engagement (PREEMI), stress (PSS:NICU), length of stay, mother's own milk (MOM) use, and visitation frequency.
Main Results:
- The journal group had significantly shorter NICU stays (25 vs. 55 days).
- Parents in the journal group reported increased comfort taking their infant home (100% vs. 64%).
- Trends showed increased MOM usage and visitation frequency, with parents endorsing improved NICU experience.
Conclusions:
- The structured journal positively impacted the parental NICU experience.
- Findings suggest potential for enhanced parental engagement and reduced stress.
- Further research in larger studies is warranted to confirm these effects.
Background:
Parents of preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience significant and lasting psychological stress, which can negatively impact both their own well-being and their child's development. To address the need for accessible, low-cost interventions that promote engagement and emotional support, we developed a structured parental journal aimed at enhancing bonding, tracking medical progress, and reducing stress during the NICU stay.
Purpose:
We hypothesized that implementing a structured journal will enhance parental mental well-being and engagement.
Methods:
In this pilot RCT, parents of very preterm infants (28 0/7 -33 6/7 weeks' gestation) were randomized to receive the journal or routine NICU care. Outcomes included parental engagement (measured by PREEMI [Parent Risk Evaluation and Engagement Model and Instrument]) and stress (measured by PSS:NICU [Parental Stress Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit]), as well as length of stay, mother's own milk (MOM) use, satisfaction, visitation frequency, and journal use.
Results:
While parental engagement or parental stress scores did not differ in the 21 families enrolled, the intervention group had significantly shorter NICU stays (25 days vs 55 days) and increased comfort taking their child home (100% vs 64% strongly agree), and trends toward increased MOM usage and visitation frequency. Parents in the journal group reported an improved NICU experience and strongly endorsed journal use.
Implications For Practice And Research:
These findings suggest that the use of the journal positively impacts multiple aspects of the parental NICU experience, highlighting its potential to enhance parental engagement and reduce stress in larger, more comprehensive studies.
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