Challenges and opportunities for early intervention and neurodevelopmental follow‐up in preterm infants during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract

comfortable and nonthreatening setting, may reduce stress and anxiety both in parents and in children. During our almost 6-month experience, this remote approach has allowed us to actively involve parents, acting on each family's home environment and on daily parent-infant interaction and tailoring the neurodevelopmental promotion intervention to the specific needs of the single family. Nevertheless, applying telemedicine to deliver the follow-up programme was sometimes problematic, for example, in the case of younger babies and families unable to afford the necessary technology. Effective tele-observation of younger babies (i.e., less than 3 months of age) depends on many variables (such as the infant's behavioural state, which may be linked to meal times, episodes of infantile colic and so on) and therefore required more time and organization. Currently, we are trying to create, for younger children, simple protocols for tele-observation sessions. The idea is to have parents record the sessions using smartphones and then share them with medical staff. We are also offering online information boards devoted to preterm children's characteristics and needs at different ages, where parents can find suggestions on appropriate toys, play and ways of helping children reach developmental milestones. Tele-observations and early tele-interventions are nonintrusive, family-centred and reassuring ways to support and communicate with families of preterm children during the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe these valuable approaches should continue to be implemented in follow-up programmes even after the current emergency. Difficult and unexpected circumstances sometimes bring to light possibilities and opportunities that we might not have thought of otherwise. We suggest that remote habilitation services could ensure continuity of intervention and minimize potential developmental delays in all situations (infection or other conditions) that require children to be isolated, or when patients are not within easy reach of specialized support.

Depression and Anxiety in Mothers Who Were Pregnant During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Northern Italy: The Role of Pandemic-Related Emotional Stress and Perceived Social Support

“…In the light of these results, it is, therefore, possible that the psychological impact of the COVID-19 emergency might be even more relevant for parents of at-risk infants (e.g., preterm birth, perinatal morbidities). For instance, the restriction to parental visiting in neonatal intensive care units may exacerbate the stress experienced by parents during this unprecedented healthcare emergency (55).…”

Starting parenting in isolation a qualitative user-initiated study of parents’ experiences with hospitalization in Neonatal Intensive Care units during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Here, there was no input from professionals. It could have been advantageous if health personnel contributed to educational and professional input to increase knowledge and support the parents (e.g., through telemedicine approach) while keeping with the COVID-19 regulation measures [33].…”

Management of Follow-Up With Preterm Infants During the Outbreak in China

“…Some clinics in western countries reported their efforts in the follow-up of preterm infants during the COVID-19 epidemic ( 13 , 14 ). Similarly to our online follow-up, they conducted telemedicine or hybrid virtual follow-up model to better adapt to the outbreak.…”

“…Similarly to our online follow-up, they conducted telemedicine or hybrid virtual follow-up model to better adapt to the outbreak. The follow-up attendance rate was increased ( 13 ), and families were satisfied with the follow-up via telemedicine ( 14 ).…”