Evidence · Randomised trial
Family nurture intervention in the NICU increases autonomic regulation in mothers and children at 4-5 years of age: Follow-up results from a randomized controlled trial.
- Allied health
- Arrhythmias
- Cardiovascular
- Developmental care and positioning
- Families and professional practice
- Family-integrated care
- Medical
- Neurodevelopmental follow-up
- Neurology
- Nursing
This paper is from 2020, more than five years ago. Newer evidence may have been published since.
Summary
Follow-up of a randomised controlled trial of Family Nurture Intervention (FNI) in the NICU for preterm infants and their mothers, assessing autonomic regulation at 4 to 5 years corrected age. About half of the original participants returned, and ECG-derived heart rate measures, respiratory sinus arrhythmia and vagal efficiency were recorded during mother-child interaction. Both children and mothers in the FNI group showed higher respiratory sinus arrhythmia than those receiving standard care, suggesting healthier parasympathetic regulation. The authors propose an autonomic co-conditioning mechanism and acknowledge the preliminary nature of findings given attrition.
Summary written for NICUlearn. Always read the original.
- Licence:
- Open (Creative Commons)
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