Therapist Education and Massage for Parent Infant-Outcomes

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Extreme Prematurity; Parents; Parent-Child Relations
• Interventions: Other: Therapist Education and Massage for Parents of Extremely Preterm Infants

• Registration Number: NCT04121897
• Lead Sponsor: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Brief Summary

The Therapist Education and Massage for Parent-Infant Outcomes program is evidence-based and includes infant massage, physical therapy interventions including developmental support and play activities to promote infant behavioral-motor development, principles of family-centered care, and multiple modes of educational delivery to enhance parent retention of knowledge, parent-infant bonding, and confidence in continuing physical therapy interventions after discharge.

Detailed Description

The Therapist Education and Massage for Parent-Infant Outcomes program involves components during and after hospitalization.

During infant hospitalization • Visit 1: Early Parent Education Session: Initiated within 3 weeks of infant birth. The therapist will educate the parent about the importance of infant positioning, the impact of prematurity on the motor and sensory systems, and how to read and respond to infant behavioral-motor cues using a written pamphlet with pictures to supplement the verbal education lasting about 30 minutes.

* The therapist will ask the parent to complete a contact information form and a demographic form and a baseline questionnaire.

* Visits 2-8: Weekly Parent Education Sessions \<34 weeks: Following the initial parent education session, the therapist will hold weekly parent education sessions, ideally at the time of therapy. When the infant is this young (\<34 weeks gestation), therapist intervention and education will focus on infant behavioral-motor cues, reading/response to infant cues, positioning strategies/concerns, and developmentally appropriate stimulation of the infant. If the parent is not available for all therapy sessions, then the parent will receive a weekly update about their infant's progress face-to-face and/or via video chat.

* Visits 9-10: Infant Massage Parent Education Sessions: Parent-administered infant massage will be incorporated into the therapy plan of care as soon as the infant's medical provider determines that the infant is physiologically stable and can tolerate massage. This time is generally once the infant is approximately 34 weeks gestational age, approximately 1500 grams, and is demonstrating temperature stability out of the isolette for short periods. At a minimum, the therapist will teach massage for the back or lower extremities over 2 parent education sessions. The therapist will demonstrate massage strokes on a doll using verbal cues to guide the parent while the parent administers massage on the infant. An instructional massage pamphlet will be provided. Once the therapist has determined parent safety with massage administration, parents will be encouraged to practice infant massage when they visit the baby and to note when they do this by marking a card at the bedside.

* Pre and Post both massage sessions, the Primary Investigator or study coordinator will collect salivary cortisol via buccal swab as a measure of physiologic stress.

* Visits 11+: Weekly Parent Education Sessions \>34 weeks: Weekly parent education once the infant is \>34 weeks will begin to incorporate hands-on developmental play activities, introduction to visual engagement, and postural control practice in variety of positions that the infant tolerates. Additionally, the therapist and parent may choose to review massage at these visits. If the parent is not available for all therapy sessions, then the parent will receive a weekly update about their infant's progress face-to-face and/or via video chat.

* Final Visit during hospitalization: Within the week of hospital discharge, the therapist will schedule a face-to-face parent education session lasting about 30 minutes to review age-appropriate developmental play activities for home and review infant massage. A supplemental handout and therapist email and pager information will be provided.

* At this visit, the therapist will have the parent fill out a questionnaire.

Follow- up procedures (by visits) The program has additional components that extend beyond the hospital period. Parent and infant outcome measures will be collected at the first follow-up and 12 month corrected age follow-up clinic visits.

After hospitalization:

* Visit 1: Parent Education Post-Discharge: The therapist will call the parent within 2 weeks of discharge to follow up about discharge education and massage. During this phone call, the therapist will review the home program and massage techniques. The therapist will also answer any parent questions. Therapist email and pager information will be provided.

* Visits 2-12 (approximate): Bi-weekly emails (or texts): The therapist will send bi-weekly emails or texts (depending on parents' preference) with developmental play activity and massage reminders and tips from hospital discharge through the first follow up appointment.

* Visit 13 (approximate): First Visit Follow-up Massage Review Session: At the infant's first follow-up appointment with the multidisciplinary neonatology team, the therapist will provide a gross motor screening assessment and education. In addition, as part of the program, a therapist will facilitate a parent-administered infant massage session to provide an opportunity for parent to receive feedback on technique from the therapist. This session will address any safety concerns, infant changes, and parent questions.

o At this visit, the therapist will have the parent fill out a questionnaire for ongoing measurement.

* Visits 14+ (approximate): Bi-weekly emails (or texts): The therapist will continue to send bi-weekly emails or texts (depending on parents' preference) with developmental play activity and massage reminders until the 12 month followup appointment.

* 12 Month Follow-up Appointment: At the standard of care 12 month corrected age follow-up appointment with the multidisciplinary neonatology team, the PI or study coordinator will interview the parent about acceptability of the program.

* At this visit, the therapist will have the parent fill out a questionnaire for ongoing measurement

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2019-10-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-10-08
• Study First Posted: 2019-10-10
• Study Start: 2019-11-25
• Primary Completion: 2022-05-01
• Study Completion: 2022-05-01
• Results First Submitted: 2023-02-09
• Status Verified: 2023-03
• Results First Submitted QC: 2023-05-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-05-03
• Results First Posted: 2023-05-06
• Last Update Posted: 2023-05-06

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 68

Inclusion Criteria

• Infants with gestational age <28 weeks gestation, within the first 3 weeks of life, and their
• Biologic mother or father must be able to speak and understand English.

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Exclusion Criteria

• Infants who do not have a biological parent available to consent within the first 3 weeks of life.
• Infants with genetic/chromosomal abnormality, congenital neurological or musculoskeletal disorder, or abnormal bone density related to a congenital condition that would affect the ability to do massage and/or exercise and the safety of the infant.
• Parents who are unwilling to engage in all components of TEMPO.

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
TEMPO	Therapist Education and Massage for Parents of Extremely Preterm Infants	The Therapist Education and Massage for Parent-Infant Outcomes program (TEMPO) is a structured, therapist-led physical therapy program. TEMPO trains and supports parents to deliver physical therapy interventions including massage and developmental play during hospitalization and in the home setting.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Average Number of Days Per Week That Enrolled Parents Complete TEMPO Activities	at First follow up visit - approximately 1 to 2 months after hospital discharge	The average days per week that parents completed TEMPO activities based on parents' weekly self reports.
Percent of Parents Who Rate Acceptability as 4/5 or 5/5 Using the Acceptability of Intervention Measure	Baseline, Hospital Discharge (Variable 8-12 weeks), First Follow up (at 1-2 months post discharge), Second Follow up (at 15-18 months)	Longitudinal measures of parents' perceived acceptability of intervention throughout the study period measured by the percent of parents who rate acceptability as 4/5 or 5/5 using the Acceptability of Intervention Measure. The Acceptability of Intervention Measure is a 12 item implementation outcome assessment designed to measure if the intervention is perceived as agreeable, palatable, or satisfactory. Cut-off scores for interpretation are not yet available; however, higher scores indicate greater acceptability.
Percent of Eligible Dyads Who Would Consent to Enroll (Recruitment)	Baseline	Recruitment is defined as the percent of eligible participants enrolled of those approached.
Percent of Parents Who Would Recommend This Program to Other Parents of Preterm Infants	Final follow up visit - an average of 15-18 months after study period begins	The percent of enrolled parents who report they would recommend the program to other parents.
Percent of Parents Who Complete All Protocol Components (Adherence)	At hospital discharge, approximately 8-16 weeks after enrollment	The percent of enrolled parents who complete all protocol components during hospitalization.
Percent of Parents Who Are Retained in the Study at 12 Months (Retention)	Final follow up visit - an average of 15-18 months after study period begins	Percent of enrolled parents who are retained in the study at 12 months.
Percent of Enrolled Parents Who Provide Complete Data and Interviews	Final follow up visit - an average of 15-18 months after study period begins	The percent of enrolled parents who provide complete data and interviews.
Percent of Parents Who Rate Acceptability as 4/5 or 5/5 Using the Feasibility of Intervention Measure	Baseline, Hospital Discharge (Variable 8-12 weeks), First Follow up (at 1-2 months post discharge), Second Follow up (at 15-18 months)	Longitudinal measures of parents' perceived feasibility of intervention throughout the study period measured by the percent of parents who rate feasibility as 4/5 or 5/5 using the Feasibility of Intervention Measure. The Feasibility of Intervention Measure is a 9 item implementation outcome assessment designed to measure the extent to which a new treatment can be successfully used or carried out. Cut-off scores for interpretation are not yet available; however, higher scores indicate greater feasibility.
Qualitative Summaries of Parent Experience Via Interview	First follow up visit - an average of 6-10 months after study period begins; Final follow up visit - an average of 15-18 months after study period begins	The Primary Investigator or research coordinator will conduct interviews with parents at both follow up visits using 3 questions developed by the Primary Investigator to assess feasibility, acceptability, and perceived benefit of massage. Yes/No responses were provided for the following questions: (1) "Was it difficult to meet the therapist weekly for TEMPO sessions?"; (2) "Would you recommend TEMPO to other parents of preterm infants?"; and (3) "Have you continued doing massage with your baby at home?".

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Longitudinal Measures in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Adult Profile Short Form - Anxiety	Baseline, Hospital Discharge (Variable 8-12 weeks), First Follow up (at 1-2 months post discharge), Second Follow up (at 15-18 months)	Sample medians and standard deviations will be reported to provide an estimate of population parameters needed for planning a future study. An 8 item validated measure with each item rated on a 5-point scale (1=never; 2=rarely; 3=sometimes; 4=often; and 5=always) with a range in score from 8 to 40 with higher scores indicating greater severity of anxiety.
Longitudinal Measures Changes in Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale	Baseline, Hospital Discharge (Variable 8-12 weeks), First Follow up (at 1-2 months post discharge), Second Follow up (at 15-18 months)	Sample means and standard deviations will be reported to provide an estimate of population parameters needed for planning a future study. A 10-item self-report questionnaire validated to detect change in depressive symptoms in mothers both during and after the postnatal period. Scores range from 0-30, with scores greater than 13 indicating likely depressive illness.
Parent Salivary Cortisol Level	To be measured twice immediately pre-and post initial massage education in the hospital. Buccal swab will be taken immediately pre and post massage implementation during hospitalization at the massage education session with therapist.	Sample means and standard deviations will be reported to provide an estimate of population parameters needed for planning a future study. Salivary cortisol is a biomarker for stress 15 that may be used to understand the mechanism by which the intervention impacts physiological stress states. Paired t-tests were conducted to assess pre- to post-infant massage cortisol levels in parents.
Postnatal Attachment Questionnaire	Final follow up visit - an average of 15-18 months after study period begins	Sample means and standard deviations will be reported to provide an estimate of population parameters needed for planning a future study. A Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale (MPAS) with 19 items representing 4 components: pleasure in proximity, tolerance, need-gratification and protection, and knowledge acquisition was used to query the parents' feelings about their infants under 1 year of age. The MPAS is a self-reported scale to reflect the degree of subjective emotional connection between mothers and their infants.The scale includes two, three, four and five options.The total score span of the scale is between 19-95, and the higher the score, the higher the level of maternal and child attachment.
Longitudinal Measures in Infant Temperament Using Carey Temperament Scales	First follow up visit - an average of 6-10 months after study period begins; Final follow up visit - an average of 15-18 months after study period begins	Sample means and standard deviations will be reported to provide an estimate of population parameters needed for planning a future study. This questionnaire assesses nine temperamental characteristics of infants. Caregivers are presented with a statement describing a certain behavior and asked to rate how often their child behaves in that way on a scale from 1 (almost never) to 6 (almost always), with higher scores indicating more difficult temperament
Mean Infant Salivary Cortisol Level	To be measured twice immediately pre-and post initial massage education in the hospital.	Buccal swab will be taken immediately pre and post massage implementation during hospitalization at the massage education session with therapist. Sample means and standard deviations will be reported to provide an estimate of population parameters needed for planning a future study. Salivary cortisol is a biomarker for stress15 that may be used to understand the mechanism by which the intervention impacts physiological stress states.
Bayley Scales of Infant Development IV	Final follow up visit - an average of 15-18 months after study period begins	The Bayley Scales of Infant Development IV (BSID-IV) is a standardized assessment to evaluate cognitive development, expressive and receptive language, and fine and gross motor development in children between the ages of 1 and 42 months. For the purpose of this study, only the gross motor scale was recorded. For infants at approximately 12 months corrected, the total gross motor scaled scores range from 0-19 with 0 indicating the highest risk of developmental delay and 19 indicating the lowest risk of developmental delay.
Longitudinal Measures in Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale	Baseline, Hospital Discharge (Variable 8-12 weeks), First Follow up (at 1-2 months post discharge), Second Follow up (at 15-18 months)	Sample means and standard deviations will be reported to provide an estimate of population parameters needed for planning a future study. A valid, reliable self-assessment tool for evaluating depressive symptoms in adult populations, including among mothers during and after parturition. The 20 item form will be used. Possible range of scores is 0-60, with the higher scores indicating the presence of more symptomatology.
Longitudinal Measures Changes in Parenting Sense of Competence Scale	Baseline, Hospital Discharge (Variable 8-12 weeks), First Follow up (at 1-2 months post discharge), Second Follow up (at 15-18 months)	Sample means and standard deviations will be reported to provide an estimate of population parameters needed for planning a future study. A 17-item scale using ratings (Strongly Disagree-1, Somewhat Disagree-2, Disagree-3, Agree-4, Somewhat Agree-5, Strongly Agree-6) to assess satisfaction of parenting and parental self-efficacy in a variety of populations with a range in score from 17 to 102 and higher scores indicating a greater sense of parental self-efficacy.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of North Carolina Children's Hospital; 🇺🇸 Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States