Medical Student University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine Bettendorf, Iowa, United States
Background: The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a stressful and emotional experience for many parents. Studies have demonstrated that parents in the NICU are at a higher risk for developing depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. At Iowa’s Level IV NICU, depression and anxiety symptoms are assessed through the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 respectively. However, these screening tools potentially do not capture the NICU environment's impact on mood presentation and symptoms. By administering the Parental Stressor Scale:NICU (PSS:NICU), a 46-questionnaire divided into four sections—sights and sounds, baby looks and behaves, relationships and parental role, and staff behaviors and communication—this study is aimed to further characterize parental stress and its manifestations, engage in conversation regarding triggers for mood and stress symptoms, and provide new strategies that better address the emotional health of caregivers. Objective: Characterize parental stress for parents with an infant hospitalized in a Level IV NICU and examine the relation between the PSS:NICU, PHQ-9, and GAD-7 in a population who are at risk for developing mood, anxiety, and stress-related disorders. Design/Methods: This study was approved by the institutional IRB and collected quantitative and qualitative data from NICU parents. Parental consent was obtained when the infant was medically stable. Parents completed the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and PSS:NICU prior to discharge. Individual interviews are conducted in-person or on zoom to gather the parent narrative related to their PSS:NICU scores. Statistical analyses will be completed in SPSS 29. Pearson correlations will examine the relationships between the PSS:NICU, PHQ-9, and GAD-7 and with each subsection of the PSS:NICU. Additionally, correlations between PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores, infant gestational age, and length of NICU hospitalization will be investigated. Common themes and direct quotations will be identified from the parental interviews. Enrollment will cease on March 1, 2024 with a goal of 15 parent interviews and 50 participant screening scores.
