The Impact of Implementing NIDCAP on the Developmental Sensitivity of Nurses Caring for Preterm Infants

Completed

• Conditions: Infant, Premature Development

• Registration Number: NCT00179985
• Lead Sponsor: Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether implementing the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program increases NICU nurses' sensitivity in meeting the developmental care needs of preterm infants.

Detailed Description

Therapies that have brought about sharp decreases in neonatal mortality have not brought about similar decreases in neurodevelopmental morbidity for preterm infants. Developmentally supportive care is NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) care that seeks to optimize the developmental course and outcomes for preterm infants. In controlled trials, implementation of the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) has been associated with with positive medical and neurobehavioral outcomes. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of implementing the NIDCAP on the developmental sensitivity of nurses caring for preterm infants in a tertiary level NICU in a children's hospital in the midwest. The NIDCAP program consists of 1) structured behavioral observations which are conducted at regular intervals during the preterm infant's hospitalization, 2) written plans which outline specific, individualized interventions to address the infant's unique developmental needs which are updated following each observation, and 3) consultations with the infant's caregivers to articulate the infant's current needs and plan. A convenience sample of 32 NICU nurses will be observed during a routine caregiving episode with one preterm infant before and another preterm infant after the implementation of the NIDCAP program with preterm infants in the NICU. Following the observations, the nurse's developmental sensitivity will be scored using a standardized tool. The nurses' developmental sensitivity before the implementation of the NIDCAP program will be compared with their developmental sensitivity following NIDCAP implementation. Informed consent will be obtained from the nurses participating in the study.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2004-12
• Study First Submitted: 2005-09-14
• Study First Submitted QC: 2005-09-14
• Study First Posted: 2005-09-16
• Primary Completion: 2006-05
• Status Verified: 2011-07
• Study Completion: 2011-07
• Last Update Submitted: 2011-07-28
• Last Update Posted: 2011-07-29

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 32

Inclusion Criteria

• be an RN,
• be an employee of the NICU at the study site,
• have completed the NICU nursing orientation at the study site,
• work at least 0.4 FTE in the NICU at the study site, and
• be observed while caring for a preterm infant born at less than or equal to 36 weeks gestation and at less than or equal to 1500 grams

Exclusion Criteria

• Nurses will not be observed while caring for fullterm infants or preterm infants receiving heavy sedation or paralyzing medications.

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Pre-NIDCAP implementation and post-NIDCAP implementation, score on a tool designed to measure NICU nurses' developmental sensitivity.	Two years	Measure NICU nurses' developmental sensitivity after training program

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Children's Memorial Hospital; 🇺🇸 Chicago, Illinois, United States