A program to support NICU parents' mental health during their transition home
The Development of PATH, a Program to Support NICU Parent Mental Health Through the Transition From Hospital to Home
This study is testing a new telehealth program to help parents of preterm infants coming home from the NICU by supporting their mental health and connecting them to resources if they need extra help.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 72 (estimated) |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Colorado, Denver Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Aurora, Colorado and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06467916 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to develop and pilot a telehealth-based program designed to support the mental health of parents whose infants are transitioning from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to home. It employs a stepped-care approach to screen parents for conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD, offering brief behavioral interventions for those at low risk and facilitating connections to community mental health services for those at medium to high risk. The program targets parents of preterm infants who have been hospitalized in the NICU for at least two weeks.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are parents of preterm infants currently hospitalized in the NICU who can communicate in English or Spanish.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have a preterm infant in the NICU or those who are not fluent in English or Spanish may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly improve the mental health outcomes of NICU parents during a critical transition period.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown success with telehealth interventions for mental health support, indicating that this approach is promising and not entirely novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion 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.
Where this trial is running
Aurora, Colorado and 1 other locations
- University of Colorado Hospital — Aurora, Colorado, United States (Recruiting)
- Oregon Health & Science University — Portland, Oregon, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Susanne Klawetter, PhD
- Email: susanne.klawetter@cuanschutz.edu
- Phone: 303-724-1646
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.