Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effect of the Neonatal Nurse Navigator Program on Maternal Stress and Neonatal Cortisol Levels
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of the Neonatal Nurse Navigator Program (NNNP) compared to usual care on maternal stress and neonatal salivary cortisol level (SCL) in the NICU.
DESIGN
Randomized control trial.
SETTING
NICU in a tertiary health care hospital in Manipal, Udupi District, Karnataka, India.
PARTICIPANTS
Neonates between 34 and 36 weeks gestation and their mothers (N = 120 dyads).
METHODS
We used block randomization to assign dyads to the intervention or control group. We measured maternal stress and neonatal SCLs within 24 hours of NICU admission and before discharge from the unit. Maternal stress using the Parental Stress Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and we estimated neonatal stress by measuring SCLs. We conducted a descriptive analysis on participant characteristics and reported maternal stress levels using means and standard deviations. We used the analysis of covariance change score test to determine the difference in maternal and neonatal stress levels between the intervention and control groups.
RESULTS
The NNNP group exhibited significantly lower maternal stress scores before discharge than the control group, and we observed reductions across all three subscales of the Parental Stress Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Mean neonatal salivary cortisol levels were significantly lower in the interventional group than in the control group, F(1.117) = 24.03, 95% confidence interval [7.9, 18.6], p < .001.
CONCLUSION
Use of the NNNP reduced maternal…
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: 120 participants or records.
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