Video Calls for Parental Stress

Overseen By Ugoeze Otome, MD

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Cook County Health

Disqualifiers: Drug exposure, Cardiac anomaly, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

70 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Do I need to stop my current medications to participate?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Serial Bedside Video Calls, Virtual NICU Visits, NICU Webcam System, Bedside Video Calls?

Research shows that using bedside web cameras in the NICU can help reduce stress for parents who are separated from their babies, especially during challenging times like a pandemic. This suggests that video calls and virtual visits might also help lower parental stress by allowing them to see and connect with their babies even when they can't be physically present. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is it safe to use video calls for reducing parental stress in the NICU?

The available research does not report any safety concerns related to the use of video calls or webcams in the NICU. These technologies are generally appreciated by families and may help reduce parental stress without any noted negative effects. ^{1 3 4 5 6}

How does the treatment Serial Bedside Video Calls differ from other treatments for parental stress in the NICU?

Serial Bedside Video Calls are unique because they allow parents to virtually visit their babies in the NICU through video, reducing stress related to separation and improving parent-infant bonding, especially during situations like the COVID-19 pandemic where physical visits may be restricted. ^{1 3 7 8 9}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this randomized prospective interventional study is to determine if serial bedside video calls w/audio feature to NICU parents in addition to the routine phone and/or bedside updates can reduce parental stress level. The main question it aims to answer is if the impact of audio-visual calls to nicu parents can improve parent-infant relationship in the form of reduced parental anxiety/stress level. Participants will be parents of infants admitted to NICU for more than seven (7) days. Parents in Group A will receive serial video call communication, 2-3 days a week in addition to the daily phone and/or bedside updates. Parents in Group B will receive daily phone and/or bedside updates per our NICU routine. Parents will complete a series of questionnaires (PSS-NICU, STAI Y-1 \& 2 and MSPSS) at 3 designated periods during an 8-week time frame. Researchers will compare Group A (intervention group) and Group B (control group) to see if there is any difference in the stress levels in relation to the intervention (serial video calls) at the end of the study time frame.

Research Team

Nanda Vishakha, MD

Principal Investigator

John H Stroger Hospital of Cook County, IL

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for parents of infants who have been in the NICU for over a week. It's designed to see if video calls can help reduce their stress compared to just phone updates.

Inclusion Criteria

My newborn has been in the NICU for at least 7 days.

Exclusion Criteria

Infant with intrauterine drug exposure

My infant has a chromosomal disorder.

My infant has a serious heart defect present from birth.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

Intervention

Parents in Group A receive serial video call communication 2-3 days a week in addition to daily phone and/or bedside updates. Group B receives routine phone and/or bedside updates.

8 weeks

2-3 video calls per week for Group A

Assessment

Parents complete a series of questionnaires (PSS-NICU, STAI Y-1 & 2, and MSPSS) at 3 designated periods during the 8-week time frame.

8 weeks

3 assessments

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in stress and anxiety levels after the intervention period.

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Serial Bedside Video Calls

Trial Overview The study tests whether regular video calls with audio to parents from the NICU can lessen their anxiety and improve parent-infant bonds, versus standard phone or bedside updates.

Participant Groups

Group I: GROUP A (intervention group) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Parents in this group will receive bedside video call 2-3 days a week in addition to the routine NICU phone update and/or bedside update using the NICU iPad w/ "Doximity" app.

Group II: Group B (control group) Active Control 1 Intervention

Parents in this group will receive the routine phone and/or bedside updates done in our NICU already without the intervention (serial video calls).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Cook County Health

Lead Sponsor

Trials

47

Recruited

16,800+

Findings from Research

A study conducted at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that parents of NICU babies who used bedside web cameras reported lower stress levels related to separation from their infants.

This suggests that telehealth technologies, like bedside cameras, can be effective interventions to improve family-centered care and reduce parental stress during challenging times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parent Stress in Relation to Use of Bedside Telehealth, an Initiative to Improve Family-Centeredness of Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Guttmann, K., Patterson, C., Haines, T., et al.[2021]

Video calls between ICU patients and their families significantly improved patients' vital signs, including pulse rate, respiratory rate, and Glasgow Coma Scale scores, indicating a positive physiological response during the calls.

Patient and family satisfaction with the video calls was high, with average scores of 4.80 and 4.87 out of 5, suggesting that this practice is well-received and could be beneficial in ICUs with restricted visitation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effect of Video Call with Family Members on Physiological Parameters of Critically Ill Patients in Intensive Care Unit: A Quasi-experimental Study. Uysal, N., Vaizoğlu, D.[2023]

Webcams in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) can facilitate virtual visitation for parents of preterm infants and those with congenital anomalies, helping them connect with their babies despite the stressful environment.

This innovative technology has the potential to enhance parent-infant bonding and lower parents' self-perceived stress during a challenging time.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Innovative technology offers virtual visitation for families. Thibeau, S., Ricouard, D., Gilcrease, C.[2016]

Parents with experience using webcams in the NICU reported positive effects, such as increased feelings of proximity to their infants and reassurance about their well-being, highlighting the potential benefits of webcam use during hospital stays.

Parents without webcam experience expressed mixed feelings; while they recognized the potential for webcams to enhance feelings of control, they also had concerns about increased mental stress and its impact on their visitation behavior.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Webcam use in German neonatological intensive care units: an interview study on parental expectations and experiences. Reimer, A., Mause, L., Hoffmann, J., et al.[2021]

This study aims to evaluate the impact of webcams in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) on the well-being of parents and clinical staff, involving 730 parents of premature babies across four NICUs.

Using a mixed methods approach, the study will assess both qualitative and quantitative effects of webcam use, including potential benefits for parents and any additional workload for nursing staff, making it the largest multicenter evaluation of its kind.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of webcams on German neonatal intensive care units - study protocol of a randomised crossover trial (Neo-CamCare). Scholten, N., Bretthauer, S., Eilermann, K., et al.[2021]

The implementation of web camera systems in NICUs, while appreciated by families, increased nurses' workload and stress, potentially impacting the quality of care provided to infants, as indicated by surveys from 623 on-camera and 130 off-camera infants.

Cultural factors influenced some families' decisions to opt out of the camera service, highlighting the need for awareness and training for nursing staff to manage the additional demands and ensure effective communication with families.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Web Camera Use in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Impact on Nursing Workflow. Joshi, A., Chyou, PH., Tirmizi, Z., et al.[2022]

Parents using telematic family-centred care (T-FCC) reported higher satisfaction and lower stress levels compared to those in the no family-centred care (N-FCC) group, indicating that video calls helped maintain a connection with their newborns during the pandemic.

While the T-FCC group benefited from improved communication and monitoring of their babies' conditions, the traditional family-centred care (FCC) group still showed the highest overall satisfaction, suggesting that in-person interactions remain important for optimal parental support.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving Care in Neonatal Intensive Units During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey on Electronic Health Communication. Giuseppe, B., Giuseppina, N., Desiree, S., et al.[2022]

Webcam use in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) significantly reduces parental stress levels, as shown in a study involving 79 parents without webcam access and 80 parents with webcam access.

Nursing stress levels and burnout remained unchanged with webcam use, despite nurses' beliefs that it increased stress; only 14% of nurses thought webcams improved the quality of care for infants.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Use of an internet camera system in the neonatal intensive care unit: parental and nursing perspectives and its effects on stress. Kubicka, Z., Zahr, E., Clark, P., et al.[2023]

Web-cameras in the NICU have been effectively used over the past decade to help connect parents with their hospitalized newborns, enhancing family support during critical times.

The successful implementation of a new web-camera system relies on collaboration with nurses and families, highlighting the importance of user input in technology design for positive outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Challenges of implementation of a web-camera system in the neonatal intensive care unit. Rhoads, SJ., Green, AL., Lewis, SD., et al.[2012]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parent Stress in Relation to Use of Bedside Telehealth, an Initiative to Improve Family-Centeredness of Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. [2021]

2. India pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effect of Video Call with Family Members on Physiological Parameters of Critically Ill Patients in Intensive Care Unit: A Quasi-experimental Study. [2023]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Innovative technology offers virtual visitation for families. [2016]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Webcam use in German neonatological intensive care units: an interview study on parental expectations and experiences. [2021]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of webcams on German neonatal intensive care units - study protocol of a randomised crossover trial (Neo-CamCare). [2021]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Web Camera Use in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Impact on Nursing Workflow. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving Care in Neonatal Intensive Units During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey on Electronic Health Communication. [2022]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Use of an internet camera system in the neonatal intensive care unit: parental and nursing perspectives and its effects on stress. [2023]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Challenges of implementation of a web-camera system in the neonatal intensive care unit. [2012]