Nurturing and Quiet Intervention: NeuroN-QI

NCT04593095 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: MP-21-2020-2587 (MP)
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 24
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The current state of knowledge reveals that the development of the brain of preterm infants is influenced by specific neonatal experiences during hospitalization, such as environmental sensory stimulation (light and noise), as well as physical and emotional proximity to mothers. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the benefits that could be associated with the combination of care interventions to improve the health outcomes of preterm infants and their mothers, and in particular the development of the brain of infants during their hospitalization in the neonatal unit. The aim of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a developmental care intervention including periods of nurturing between mothers and their infant (skin-to-skin contact and auditory stimulation) to promote physical and emotional proximity and a quiet period (controlled light and noise levels and olfactory stimulation in incubators) and to estimate the effect of this intervention on infants' neurodevelopment as well as on maternal stress and anxiety.

Conditions

Neurodevelopment

Keywords

developmental care; preterm infants; mothers; pilot study

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Feasibility and acceptability of the NeuroN-QI and the study procedures as assessed by a self-completed questionnaire (mothers) and a logbook (RA)

  questionnaire completed by mothers - each question treated separately (no total score) Log book completed by a research assistant

  1 year

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Estimated effects of NeuroN-QI on infants' neurodevelopment as assessed using the Assessment of Preterm Infants Behavior (APIB)

  1 year

• Estimated effects of NeuroN-QI on infants' neurodevelopment as assessed using the General Movements Assessment (GMA)

  1 year

• Estimated effects of NeuroN-QI on maternal stress as assessed by PSS:NICU

  1 year

• Estimated effects of NeuroN-QI on maternal anxiety as assessed by STAI-Y

  1 year

• Nurses' training needs about the NeuroN-QI as assessed by a self-completed questionnaire

  1 year

Other Outcomes (1)

• Confounding variables

  1 year

Study Arms (2)

Experimental

EXPERIMENTAL

Each SSC session will last 2-hr during the day including a 15-min of auditory stimulation with maternal voice and controlled levels of NICU light and noise. The 2-hr SSC will be followed by a 1-hr quiet period where infants will rest in their incubator/crib with a pad immersed with their mother breast milk for olfactory stimulation and where the control of light and noise levels will be continued. The NeuroN-QI will be done 4 times/wk for each dyad.

Other: NeuroN-QI

Control

NO INTERVENTION

Mothers-infant dyads will do 4 SSC/wk. During these sessions, no attempt will be made by the RA to control the light and noise levels nor to encourage auditory stimulation. The SSC periods will not be followed by a quiet period nor olfactory stimulation.

Interventions

NeuroN-QI OTHER

SSC session lasting 2-hr during the day 4 times/wk including a 15-min of auditory stimulation with maternal voice and controlled levels of NICU light and noise followed by a 1-hr quiet period where infants will rest in their incubator/crib with olfactory stimulation and where the control of light and noise levels will be continued.

Experimental

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 26 Weeks - 32 Weeks
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Infants:
• \- born between 26 and 316/7 WGA.
• Mothers
• agree to do 4 SSC sessions/week with a 15-minutes period of auditory (reading) stimulation;
• express breast milk for their infant;
• speak, read, or write French or English.
• Nurses:
• have at least 6 months of work experience in a NICU;
• speak and read French or English.

You may not qualify if:

• Infants:
• have birth defects or genetic disorders;
• have an intraventricular hemorrhage \> grade II;
• receive nasal respiratory support;
• have been transferred from another hospital.
• Mothers:
• are \<18 years of age;
• had a multiparous birth;
• have a physical condition that does not allow SSC;
• abuse substances or alcohol;
• do not intend to breastfeed or give breastmilk.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• St. Justine's Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

CHU Sainte-Justine

Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1C5, Canada

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Aita M, Heon M, Lavallee A, De Clifford Faugere G, Altit G, Le May S, Dorval V, Lippe S, Larone Juneau A, Remmer E, Rennick JE. Nurturing and quiet intervention (NeuroN-QI) on preterm infants' neurodevelopment and maternal stress and anxiety: A pilot randomized clinical trial protocol. J Adv Nurs. 2021 Jul;77(7):3192-3203. doi: 10.1111/jan.14819. Epub 2021 Mar 14.

  PMID: 33719093 DERIVED

Study Officials

• Marilyn Aita, PhD

  St. Justine's Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor & Researcher

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 25, 2020
• First Posted: October 19, 2020
• Study Start: June 1, 2021
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2024
• Study Completion: June 1, 2024
• Last Updated: March 20, 2025

Record last verified: 2023-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (1)