Background Parents’ stress resulting from hospitalization of their infant in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) produces emotional and behavioral responses. The National Institutes of Health–sponsored Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) offers a valid and efficient means of assessing parents’ responses. Objective To examine the relationship of stress to anxiety, depression, fatigue, and sleep disruption among parents of infants hospitalized in the NICU. Methods Thirty parents completed the Parental Stressor Scale (PSS:NICU) containing subscales for NICU Sights and Sounds, Infant Behavior and Appearance, and Parental Role Alteration, and the PROMIS anxiety, depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbance short-form instruments. Results PSS total score was significantly correlated with anxiety (r = 0.61), depression (r = 0.36), and sleep disturbance (r = 0.60). Scores for NICU Sights and Sounds were not significantly correlated with parents’ outcomes; however, scores for Alteration in Parenting Role were correlated with all 4 outcomes, and scores for Infant Appearance were correlated with all except fatigue. Conclusion Stress experienced by parents of NICU infants is associated with a concerning constellation of physical and emotional outcomes comprising anxiety, depression, fatigue, and sleep disruption.

While community engagement can occur at all levels of research development, implementation, and dissemination, there is a great need for participation from those with lived experience in the development of research priorities to be used by stakeholders in research, funding, and policy. The Research Prioritization by Affected Communities (RPAC) protocol has successfully developed community-driven priorities for those at risk for preterm birth, but the 2-day focus group methodology may not be suitable for all vulnerable communities. For the purposes of a larger study supporting pregnant and parenting individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) in research prioritization, we adapted the RPAC protocol to meet the needs of this highly stigmatized community. This adaptation made it possible for those who may not have been able to attend two separate sessions to successfully engage in this participatory process and produce a completed set of priorities by the end of 1 day. The objective of this article is to validate the adapted protocol for prioritizing research and service delivery needs with vulnerable and stigmatized communities.

Introduction The motivation to seek treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) can increase during the perinatal period. However, several identified barriers, such as poor access to services, lack of trained providers, stigma, and legal ramifications of OUD, limit the ability for individuals with OUD to receive safe and supportive care during pregnancy and birth. During the birth hospital stay in particular, nurses provide the majority of care for pregnant and birthing families. We aimed to engage nurses, with experience caring for pregnant and postpartum individuals with OUD, in priority setting as a way to identify areas of need in the current health care systems. Methods Using community‐engaged priority setting methods, we recruited a sample of 47 nurses (phase 1) and 20 nurses (phase 2), including nurse‐midwives and other advanced practice nurses, at a statewide nursing conference, who reported regularly providing care for pregnant and postpartum individuals with OUD. We invited participants to submit questions and concerns regarding the provision of care for individuals with OUD (phase 1). A selection of those who submitted questions attended a focus group to rank and prioritize submitted questions into a set of priorities for research, policy, and care improvement (phase 2). Results In phase 1, participants submitted a total of 165 questions and concerns. In phase 2, participants prioritized the following: funding to support improvements in OUD care in the perinatal period, increased access to services, supportive housing for individuals in recovery, standardization of care for individuals with OUD, and efforts to destigmatize care. Discussion Nurses who work with pregnant and postpartum individuals with OUD have a unique insight as to how health care providers, including midwives, can better support this community and should be engaged setting priorities for research, changes to policy, and improvement in care.

Objectives: To engage community members with opioid use disorder (OUD) and case managers working with pregnant and parenting individuals with OUD in a priority setting process to identify the key priorities for research, policy, and care improvement during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Methods: We conducted focus groups across Washington State with pregnant and parenting people with OUD and with case managers working with this community as part of research priority setting using the validated Research Prioritization by Affected Communities protocol. Priorities for research, policy, and service improvement were developed during each focus group by the participants. Results: Three focus groups with pregnant and parenting people with OUD and 2 focus groups with case managers were conducted (total N ¼ 24 and 16, respectively). Both prioritized topics such as stigma and bias, housing, access to treatment, and steps toward successful recovery. The community and case manager groups shared similar, complementary strategies for each priority, with differences reflecting their perspectives in relation to OUD. Conclusions: Community-engaged priority setting among those with OUD was an effective and meaningful way to guide future research, policy, and care improvement efforts.