Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service III (Projects aiming at quality service to patients and their carers)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
HA Young Investigators Session (Projects to be presented by HA staff who had joined HA for 10 years or less)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Chan MT(1)(2), Lam WK(1)(2), Chan SY(1)(2), Cheung SY(1)(2), Liong MT(1)(2), & Siu KL(1)(2)
Affiliation :
(1) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, (2) Special Care Baby Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Introduction :
Most preterm infants need to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) immediately after birth for better survival. These parents experience traumatic and psychological stresses after separating from their infants. Literature suggested implementing the parental reading program could help reduce parents’ stress and improve babies' cognitive function and literacy development.
Objectives :
This project aims to assess the effect of a parental reading program implemented in NICU on parental stress. The objectives include (1) To initiate a reading program for NICU parents; (2) To evaluate the effect of the parental reading program on parental stress levels, parental stress on parental role, parental stress on parent-infant bonding and parent emotion status; (3) To assess parental satisfaction to the reading program.
Methodology :
A mixed-methods design was employed. A Pre-and-post questionnaire was used to assess parental stress levels before reading, after 1st reading session, 14th and 28th day of reading. A reading diary was used for collecting parental emotion-rating scale (PERS) and reading frequency. Paired T-test was used for quantitative data analysis. Parental interviews and phone follow-ups were performed for qualitative data collection, and used ‘Braun and Clarke’ approach for thematic analysis. Outcome measures were categorized as (1) Total parental stress level, (2) Parental stress on parental role, (3) Parental stress on parent-infant bonding, (4) Parent emotion status and (5) Parental satisfaction.
Result & Outcome :
From April to May 2023, 21 participants (parents) were recruited. Total parental stress level (p< 0.001), parental stress on parental role (p< 0.002), parental stress on parent-infant bonding (p=0.1), and parent emotion status (p< 0.005) were significantly improved. 78.6% of participants were satisfied with the reading program. 85.7% of participants had continued the reading activities to their infants at 1 month post-discharge.
The reading program effectively reduced parental stress levels in the NICU. Findings also reflected significant improvement in other outcome measures. Overall, parents are satisfied with the program. Simple reading intervention could be beneficial to parents and infants. Thus, this evidence-based practice should be promoted to support family during the hospitalization. Extending the data collection period is recommended to gather a bigger sample size for generalization. Information regarding the baby's physiological data could also be gathered for further study.
