The Development of PATH, a Program to Support NICU Parent Mental Health Through the Transition From Hospital to Home

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, DENVER · Jun 14, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, called PATH, is designed to help parents of babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) take care of their mental health as they transition from the hospital to home. Many parents experience feelings of depression, anxiety, or stress during this challenging time. The PATH program will use telehealth, which means you can participate from home, to check in with parents about their mental health. If a parent shows signs of needing extra support, the program will provide a brief intervention to help, and for those who need more help, it will connect them to local mental health services.

To be eligible for this study, you need to be a parent of a preterm baby (born at or before 32 weeks gestation) who is currently in the NICU for at least two weeks. Parents can be of any age and should speak either English or Spanish. The trial is currently recruiting participants and is open to both parents and healthcare professionals involved in the NICU. If you choose to participate, you can expect to engage in mental health screening and receive support tailored to your needs, all while being guided by trained professionals.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • NICU parents: Participants will be parents of currently hospitalized preterm infants from either the OHSU NICU or the UCH NICU. We will include parents of live preterm infants who have been admitted in the NICU for at least 2 weeks. Parents must speak English or Spanish. Parents can be of any age.
• • NICU stakeholders: Participants will be stakeholders from either the OHSU NICU or the UCH NICU. Stakeholders will be social workers, mental health providers responsible for providing more intensive mental health support for NICU parents, nurses, neonatologists, and hospital administrators.