Community-partnered doula support for NICU families
Official title: Community-Partnered Doula Support for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Families
Run by Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island · NCT07437131 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will test whether pairing parents of NICU infants with a community doula for six weeks reduces parental stress compared with usual care.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Providence, Rhode Island) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 10, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 1, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 1, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | April 7, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07437131 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Parents or primary caregivers of infants admitted to the NICU at Women and Infants Hospital with an anticipated stay of two weeks or longer who speak English or Spanish.
✕Probably not a fit
Parents of infants expected to be in the NICU for less than two weeks, those receiving care outside Women and Infants Hospital, or those who do not speak English or Spanish are unlikely to benefit from this program.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This single-site, randomized pilot compares enhanced community doula support to standard care for parents of infants in the NICU at Women and Infants Hospital in Providence, RI. Participants complete baseline surveys and physical measures (blood pressure and a blood sample) and are reassessed at six weeks. Families randomized to the intervention meet weekly with a trained community doula for six weeks to receive emotional, informational, and advocacy support. The trial also includes an implementation evaluation to understand how doula services can be delivered and sustained in the NICU setting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce parental stress, depression, and anxiety and improve parent engagement and health during their infant's NICU stay.
How similar studies have gone: Doula support has shown benefits in other perinatal settings, but randomized doula interventions have not previously been conducted in the NICU, making this a novel application.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * baby admitted to NICU at Women and Infants Hospital * anticipated NICU stay greater than or equal to 2 weeks * English or Spanish speaking Exclusion Criteria: * Infant anticipated stay \< 2 weeks
Where it's running
-
Women and Infants Hospital
Providence, Rhode Island, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Alisse Hauspurg, MD
- Email: ahauspurg@carene.org
- Phone: 401-274-1122
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.