Impact of Implementing Reach Out and Read in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

NCT07511075 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 00022938
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 101
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This is a pre/post quasi-interventional study with two arms. First, a baseline cohort of parent-infant dyads admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) were enrolled and surveyed at three timepoints (admission, discharge, and one-month post-discharge) to characterize baseline habits, attitudes, and barriers toward shared reading in the NICU in the absence of a shared reading program. Reach Out and Read (ROR) in the NICU, a shared reading program modified from the national ROR outpatient program to the NICU setting was then implemented. Following program implementation, a subsequent cohort of parent-infant dyads admitted to the NICU were enrolled (the "ROR" cohort) and surveyed at the same three timepoints. Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of ROR NICU to promote shared reading in the NICU were evaluated.

Conditions

Parent; Reading; NICU Infants; Neonates or Premature Babies

Keywords

shared reading; infant development; relational health; interventional; neonatal intensive care unit; educational intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Rate of regular reading

  Parent-reported frequency of shared reading (days/week) in the last week with "regular reading" defined as at least 3 times per week.

  Time point 1: baseline. Time point 2: average 6 weeks after baseline. Time point 3: 4 weeks after time point 2

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Proportion of eligible infants who received the intervention

  After infant discharge, average of 6 weeks from baseline.

• Program acceptability

  Time point 1: baseline. Time point 2: average 6 weeks after baseline. Time point 3: 4 weeks after time point 2

• Frequency of intervention per patient (fidelity to the model)

  After infant discharge, average of 6 weeks from baseline

Study Arms (2)

Baseline, Pre-ROR (before Reach Out and Read) Cohort

NO INTERVENTION

Baseline cohort of parent-infant dyads not exposed to the shared reading program Reach Out and Read in the NICU

ROR (Reach Out and Read) Cohort

EXPERIMENTAL

Parent-infant dyads in this group received children's books paired with anticipatory guidance on shared reading every two weeks during the infant's NICU stay.

Other: Shared reading program

Interventions

Shared reading program OTHER

Reach Out and Read in the NICU (ROR NICU) was implemented. All infants admitted to the NICU receive a book paired with education/anticipatory guidance on shared reading every two weeks during their NICU admission.

ROR (Reach Out and Read) Cohort

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• New neonatal admission to the NICU at less than or equal to 14 days old
• Estimated length of stay 2 weeks or longer
• English or Spanish speaking

You may not qualify if:

• Nonviable neonates or those with uncertain viability
• Families with discontinuous social situations or parent/infant separation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Catherine Caruso: lead
• Academic Pediatric Association: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Oregon Health & Science University

Portland, Oregon, 97239, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Premature Birth

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SEQUENTIAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Model Details: A baseline cohort not exposed to a shared reading program was recruited and surveyed at three timepoints. After implementing a shared reading program, a second cohort (exposed to the shared reading program) was recruited and surveyed at the same three timepoints. Cohorts were then compared.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 16, 2026
• First Posted: April 6, 2026
• Study Start: October 18, 2021
• Primary Completion: June 5, 2023
• Study Completion: June 5, 2023
• Last Updated: April 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)