Premium
THE FEASIBILITY OF USING “PREMIESTART,” A MOTHER–PREMATURE INFANT INTERACTION PROGRAM, ON A NEONATAL UNIT IN ENGLAND
Author(s) -
Dibley Alexandra L.,
RydinOrwin Tracy,
Stedmon Jacqui,
Dallos Rudi
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
infant mental health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1097-0355
pISSN - 0163-9641
DOI - 10.1002/imhj.21572
Subject(s) - thematic analysis , unit (ring theory) , intervention (counseling) , medicine , nursing , psychology , developmental psychology , qualitative research , social science , mathematics education , sociology
This article explores the feasibility of running “PremieStart,” a nine‐individual‐session maternal–premature infant interaction program, within a neonatal unit (NNU) in England. Four mothers of premature infants completed seven sessions on the NNU and two at home. Mothers and NNU staff provided feedback on PremieStart. Measures of maternal–infant relationship, maternal well‐being, and maternal reflective functioning were completed before and after intervention. Thematic analysis of mothers’ feedback highlighted the emotional, but cathartic, experience of engaging with PremieStart. NNU staff feedback indicated the need to include them more in PremieStart. Both mothers and staff were supportive of future implementation of PremieStart and highlighted the ongoing need for psychological support on the NNU. PremieStart was implemented with positive feedback from mothers and staff, with support shown for the continued use of PremieStart in the NNU. However, for future implementation, the self‐report outcome measures need reviewing, and more involvement of fathers and NNU staff is needed. In addition, a larger sample with a control group should be utilized.