WIP 91 - Investigating Needs, Stressors, and Resilience in Non-birthing Parents with Infants in the NICU

Poster Number: WIP 91
Publication Number: WIP 91.900

Background: Non-birthing parents of NICU patients are the only members in these new families that are not patients. This creates simultaneous tensions of being pushed to the margins while being relied upon as the most healthy. Studies on the needs of non-birthing parents whose infants are in U.S. NICUs are lacking. Parents identifying with historically disenfranchised groups who have experienced discrimination, mistrust in care providers, and socioeconomic instability may intersect with difficulties experienced by parenting a NICU patient.

Objective: This project aims to study NICU non-birthing versus birthing parents’ perceived experiences of support and resilience and their stressors (discrimination and adverse social determinants of health (SDH)).

Design/Methods: Parents at 2 centers will complete a voluntary, anonymous online survey offered 7 days after NICU admission and again 1-2 weeks prior to discharge. Parents will use Likert scales to rate perceived support, engagement by care providers, and discrimination inside and outside the NICU. Validated instruments are used (with permission) to measure ability to cope with changes (2-item Conor-Davidson Resilience Scale) and assess stressors related to SDH (9-item Health Leads Screening Tool). Responses of non-birthing and birthing parents will be compared using descriptive statistics (Chi test and odds ratios for categorical and student t test for continuous variables). Multivariable analyses will assess how parent factors (demographic information, resilience and SDH) correlate to perceived support and positive NICU experiences (SPSS v29 IBM Armonk, NY). This study is IRB approved at both centers and data collection is ongoing. The 43 survey responses collected to date does not allow for comparisons or statistical analyses yet due to the small sample size. We aim to collect 200 surveys by March 2024 and complete analysis by April 2024.