Impact of Journal Program on Wellbeing of NICU Parents

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Status: Completed

Conditions: Depression; Anxiety

Treatments: Behavioral: Journaling; Behavioral: Anxiety and depression screening

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04331925

181831

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of a journaling program on rates of anxiety and depression in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) parents.

Enrollment: 100 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Mother, father, and/or legal guardian of infant
• > 28 weeks gestation
• At least 5 days anticipated admission in Vanderbilt NICU

Exclusion criteria

• < 28 weeks gestation
• Expected death or discharge within 5 days of admission
• Primary medical team feels that participation would be disruptive or detrimental to infant's care

Trial design

Primary purpose: Screening

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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100 participants in 2 patient groups

Anxiety and depression screening

Other group

Description:

Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire administered at the start of the study. After two weeks or at the time of discharge, participants will complete the HADS questionnaire again

Treatment:

Behavioral: Anxiety and depression screening

Behavioral: Journaling

Anxiety and depression screening with journaling

Experimental group

Description:

Parents randomized into the intervention group be given verbal instructions to use a journal how/when they choose for the duration of the intervention period. They will also complete the HADS questionnaire before and after the intervention period of two weeks. At the end of the intervention period, these parents will also complete a survey regarding their experience with journaling

Treatment:

Behavioral: Journaling