Emotional Experiences in Fathers of NICU Infants

NCT00306605 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 26047
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 35
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

This study is designed to evaluate the emotional experiences of fathers who have preterm infants who are hospitalized in a (neonatal intensive care unit)NICU setting. In addition, we will compare the emotional responses experienced by father of surgical NICU babies and fathers of medical NICU babies. Our primary hypothesis is that paternal stress levels will be lower for those fathers of infants who are hospitalized in a medical NICU compared with fathers of infants who are hospitalized in a surgical NICU. Secondary hypotheses include: 1) Stress levels for fathers of hospitalized infants will decrease over time; 2) Depressive symptomatology modulates perceived stress in fathers of NICU infants.

Conditions

Stress; Depressive Symptomatology

Keywords

Emotional experiences; fathers; stress; depressive symptomatology; NICU; preterm birth

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Perceived paternal stress levels will be lower for those fathers of infants who are hospitalized in a medical NICU compared with fathers of infants who are hospitalized in a surgical NICU.

  First 5 weeks of infant's life and / or hospitalization

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Stress levels for fathers of hospitalized infants will decrease over time.

  Within the first 5 weeks of their infant's birth / hospitalization

• Depressive symptomatology modulates perceived stress in fathers of infants in NICUs.

  First 5 weeks after their infant's birth / hospitalization

Interventions

Questionnaire BEHAVIORAL

Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire 3 times throughout the first 5 weeks after their infant's birth / hospitalization

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Fathers of preterm infants who are hospitalized in a newborn intensive care unit.

You may qualify if:

• consenting fathers who are English speaking
• fathers with preterm infants \< 30 weeks gestation and who are likely to survive
• Infants who lack congenital or genetic abnormalities likely to be associated with significant neurodevelopmental handicaps.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Christiana Care Health Services: lead
• Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

Christiana Hospital (Christiana Care Health Systems)

Newark, Delaware, 19718, United States

Location

A.I. duPont Hospital for Children

Wilmington, Delaware, 19899, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Miles MS, Brunssen SH. Psychometric properties of the parental stressor scale: infant hospitalization. Adv Neonatal Care. 2003 Aug;3(4):189-96. doi: 10.1016/s1536-0903(03)00138-3.

  PMID: 14502526 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Premature Birth

Interventions

Surveys and Questionnaires

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Obstetric Labor, Premature; Obstetric Labor Complications; Pregnancy Complications; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Data Collection; Epidemiologic Methods; Investigative Techniques; Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms; Quality of Health Care; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Public Health; Environment and Public Health

Study Officials

• Amy B. Mackley, MSN, RNC

  Christiana Care Health Systems

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Michael L. Spear, MD

  Christiana Care Health Systems; A.I. duPont Hospital for Children

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Robert G. Locke, DO

  Christiana Care Health Systems; A.I. duPont Hospital for Children

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Rachel Joseph, MSN, CCRN

  Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Amy Mackley

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 22, 2006
• First Posted: March 24, 2006
• Study Start: March 1, 2006
• Primary Completion: September 1, 2008
• Study Completion: November 1, 2008
• Last Updated: June 21, 2017

Record last verified: 2017-06

Locations

US (2)