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Table 5 Effectiveness on maternal/parental outcomes

From: Effectiveness of early intervention programs for parents of preterm infants: a meta-review of systematic reviews

Maternal/parental outcomes

Review

Intervention

Effectiveness of the intervention on outcome

Additional information on impact

Positive impact

No impact

Inconclusive

Quality of mother–infant relationship for mothers

Evans et al., 2014 [26]

GP

√

–

–

Large effect sizes using observation measure (2.09) and interview measure (1.20)

SM-NSTEP-P

√

–

–

Positive impact for mothers with low education, with effect size 0.86

Brett et al., 2011 [25]a

Parent support groups/parent led peer support

√

–

–

Evidence reported from a non-RCT study for mothers of critically ill preterm babies

Maternal/parental stress alleviation

Benzies et al. 2013 [30]

M-MITP, NBAS, COPE, PBIP, IBAIP

–

–

√

Pooled effect z = 0.40 (p = 0.69)

Brett et al., 2011 [25]a

COPE, MITP, NIDCAP

√

–

–

Evidence reported from four high quality and well conducted RCTs. No significant reduction in parental stress from NIDCAP at 1–2 weeks after the baby was born

Home support programmes where parents are visited regularly for the first year and for upto three years afterwards

√

–

–

Based on RCT evidence with high risk of bias. Specific details of the intervention unclear

McGregor et al., 2012 [35]

KC

√

–

–

Reduction in stressful situations (32%), heart rate (7%) and Pain Visual Analogue Scale score (89%)

Zhang et al., 2014 [24]

M-MITP, COPE, MITP

√

–

–

Impact until the baby is 12 months old with MITP

Reduction in maternal/parental anxiety

Benzies et al. 2013 [30]

COPE, VIBeS Plus, NBAS

√

–

–

Positive pooled effect z = 2.54 (P = 0.01)

Zhang et al., 2014 [24]

Not specified

–

√

–

Used State Trait Anxiety Inventory scale to measure anxiety

Brett et al., 2011 [25]a

KC

√

–

–

Significant reduction in maternal anxiety around her infant. RCT evidence showing music during KC resulted in significantly lower maternal anxiety

Reduction in maternal depressive symptoms

Benzies et al. 2013 [30]

COPE, VIBeS Plus, M-MITP,

√

–

–

Positive pooled effect z = 4.04(P < 0.0001)

Zhang et al., 2014 [24]

MITP, COPE

√

–

–

Positive impact on depressive symptoms after the infant was discharged home. Statistical significance not reported

Brett et al., 2011 [25]a

KC

√

–

–

Significantly less postnatal depression compared with the controls at 37 weeks

Maternal self-efficacy

Benzies et al. 2013 [30]

NBAS

√

–

–

Pooled effect z = 2.05 (P = 0.04)

Parental confidence/ competence/ satisfaction

Goyal et al., 2013 [33]

Home visiting programmes

√

–

–

Name of the interventions not specified

Brett et al., 2011 [25]a

MITP, KC

√

–

–

MITP significantly improved maternal satisfaction and maternal self-confidence. KC provided the mother with a significantly greater sense of competence with their infant

Breast feeding support programmes

√

–

–

Improved the confidence of mothers in breastfeeding

NIDCAP

–

√

–

RCT evidence showing no impact at 1–2 weeks after birth

Mother’s/Parents’ interaction with infants

Brett et al., 2011 [25]a

Discharge planning programmes

√

–

–

Based on RCT evidence with high risk of bias. Specific details of the intervention unclear

Home support programmes

√

–

–

Based on RCT evidence with high risk of bias. Specific details of the intervention unclear

KC

√

  

Significantly greater sensitivity towards her infant. Effect size not reported. Better infant interaction, more touch, better adaptation to infant cues and better perception of their infant at all time periods.

Mother’s coping skills

Zhang et al., 2014 [24]

COPE

–

–

√

Both positive and no impact reported.

Preparing parents to see infant for first time

Brett et al., 2011 [25]a

Use of photograph

√

–

–

Reported positive effect based on a well conducted RCT

Parents’ emotional and practical guidance

Brett et al., 2011 [25]a

Home based support programmes

√

–

–

aRCT (1-), interventions unclear

  1. aBrett et al., [25] used evidence from RCTs with the strength of evidence reported using Scottish Intercollegiate Grading Network guideline
  2. Interventions: COPE Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment, GP Guided participation, IBAIP Infant Behavioural Assessment and Intervention Program, KC Kangaroo Care, M-MITP Modified Mother Infant transaction programme, MITP Mother–Infant Transaction Program, NBAS Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale, NIDCAP Newborn Individualised Developmental & Assessment Programme, NSTEP-P Nursing Systems Towards Effective Parenting-Preterm, PBIP Parent-Baby Interaction Programme, SM State Modulation, VIBeS Plus Victorian Infant Brain Studies