Effects of web neonatal intensive care unit diaries on the mental health, quality of life, sleep quality, care ability, and hormone levels of parents of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit: A randomized controlled trial
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of web neonatal intensive care unit diaries on the mental health, quality of life, sleep quality, care ability, and hormone levels of parents of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.
DESIGN
Prospective randomized controlled parallel-group clinical trial.
SETTING
Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Fujian, China.
METHODS
The control group received routine neonatal intensive care unit care, while the intervention group received a web neonatal intensive care unit diary based on routine care. Outcomes, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, quality of life, sleep quality, care ability, and cortisol and melatonin levels, were evaluated at T1 (Time 1, before the intervention), T2 (Time 2, immediately after the intervention), and T3 (Time 3, 1 month after the intervention).
RESULTS
Seventy pairs of parents of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit were randomly allocated to two groups: intervention (n = 35) and control (n = 35). The anxiety scores in the intervention group were significantly lower at T2 and T3 than those in the control group (P 0.05). No significant differences were observed in cortisol and melatonin levels between the groups (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Web neonatal intensive care unit diaries effectively relieved anxiety symptoms, reduced the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, and enhanced the care abilities of parents of preterm infants in the neonatal…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 35 participants or records.
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