Abstract
Intervention to prevent negative mental health outcomes in families of ill and premature newborns is an important part of neonatal care. This study addresses the factors which influence participation in a parent support group for parents of ill and premature newborns. Demographic, social support, and infant health data were examined to determine how support group participants and nonparticipants differed. In addition, efforts at enhancing recruitment and retention into support groups were examined. Results showed participants in the support group to have less healthy infants with longer hospital stays than nonparticipants. Participants reported more favorable financial situations, slightly higher incomes and less social support as measured by fewer contacts with family and friends than nonparticipants. Recommendations for future intervention research are discussed.
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The authors acknowledge the help of the group leaders who volunteered to participate in the study, as well as the exceptional efforts of Susan Grossbard in recruitment of subjects. In addition, the support and assistance of Drs. Ruth Stein, Henry Ireys and Dorothy Jessop throughout the research project is greatly appreciated.
The authors are affiliated with the Preventive Intervention Research Center for Child Health, the Division of Neonatology, and the Low Birthweight Infant Follow-up & Evaluation Program of the Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine—Montefiore Medical Center (supported in part by Grant #P50-MH38280 from the Branch for Prevention Research of the National Institute of Mental Health).
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Fontana, C.A., Fleischman, A.R., Mccarton, C. et al. A neonatal preventive intervention study: Issues of recruitment and retention. J Primary Prevent 9, 164–176 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01325210
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01325210