Parent–Infant Interventions to Promote Parental Sensitivity During NICU Hospitalization: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of parent–infant interventions for parents of preterm infants on parental sensitivity compared to standard care or active comparators. This review follows the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and was prospectively registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; registration ID: CRD42016047083). Database searches were performed from inception to 2020 to identify eligible randomized controlled trials. Two review authors independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool and quality of evidence using the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) guidelines. A total of 19 studies ( n = 2,111 participants) were included and 14 were suitable to be pooled in our primary outcome meta-analysis. Results show no significant effect of parent–infant interventions over standard care or basic educational programs, on parental sensitivity. Results may not necessarily be due to the ineffectiveness of the interventions but rather due to implementation failure or high risk of bias of included studies.

Systematic review shows the benefits of involving the fathers of preterm infants in early interventions in neonatal intensive care units

“…16 Overall, the presence of fathers in the NICU has been acknowledged as a source of support for the well-being of mothers and, thereby, of infants. 17,18 Despite this, the vast majority of the early interventions involving parents in NICUs have been performed by mothers, 19 also in individualized care contexts. 20 The lack of systematic studies that have investigated the effects of paternal-driven interventions does not encourage health practitioners to involve fathers in the early care of their preterm infants.…”

An Early Collaborative Intervention Focusing on Parent-Infant Interaction in the Neonatal Period. A Descriptive Study of the Developmental Framework

“…Support has also been suggested to be effective when made into a collaboration between parents and staff [ 44 ], based on the preterm infant’s cues [ 25 , 45 ]. EACI offers a way to support parent-infant relations as the provider explains the preterm infant’s subtle cues in order to help parents feel secure in caring for their infant.…”

Documenting standard developmental care in neonatal intensive care units: Insights from the GP_Posit pilot trial

“…José Côté 1,3,4 Linda Bell 3,5 Thuy Mai Luu 6,7 Care practices that were mentioned by mothers: changing the diaper (n = 8), changing saturation sensor (n = 4), bathing (n = 7), cleaning eyes (n = 2), doing nasal hygiene (n = 1) and giving vitamins (n = 1).…”