Peer Support Groups for Families With an Infant in the NICU

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The goal of this observational study is to learn the impact of race, ethnicity, and language matched peer support groups on parental stress, anxiety, and sense of belonging for families who have or have had an infant hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The main questions aim to answer: Do race, ethnicity, and language matched peer support groups decrease parental stress and anxiety and improve sense of belonging of parents while their baby is hospitalized in the NICU? And, are there any changes that should be made to the format of the peer support group sessions? Participants will be invited to attend a peer support group that is matched for race, ethnicity, and language. Participants will have the option of filling out a survey on stress, anxiety, and sense of belonging before and after the peer group session. Additionally, participants will have the option of filling out a satisfaction survey after the peer group session.

Detailed Description
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The study will be observational research wherein participants who want to attend a peer support group, will have the option of filling out surveys before and after peer support group attendance. Surveys are voluntary and the only way of assessing the behavioral outcome (impact on parental stress, anxiety, and sense of belonging); families can attend the peer support groups even if the family member does not want to participate in the survey.

Official Title
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Peer Support for Black and Latino Families With an Infant in the NICU

Conditions
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Anxiety, Stress

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Participant guided peer support gathering


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Parental or guardian self-identified as Black, African American, African, Latino, Hispanic, Chicano Parent or guardian of infant that was or is admitted to Oregon Health & Science University, Randall Children's Hospital, or Providence Health NICU in Portland, OR Exclusion Criteria: Parent or guardian age less than 18 years old Preferred language other than English or Spanish (including if preferred communication is sign language)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| African American and Black<br>One cohort includes families that identify as Black, African American, or African attending the racially concordant peer group sessions. | Behavioral: Participant guided peer support gathering<br>* This prospective observational cohort study will be assessing parental stress, anxiety, and sense of belonging before and after participant attendance at the culturally concordant peer group session.<br>|
| Latino English Preferred<br>One cohort includes families that identify as Latino, Hispanic, Chicano and language preference of English attending the ethnically concordant peer group sessions. | Behavioral: Participant guided peer support gathering<br>* This prospective observational cohort study will be assessing parental stress, anxiety, and sense of belonging before and after participant attendance at the culturally concordant peer group session.<br>|
| Latino Spanish preferred<br>One cohort includes families that identify as Latino, Hispanic, Chicano and language preference of Spanish attending the ethnically and linguistically concordant peer group sessions. | Behavioral: Participant guided peer support gathering<br>* This prospective observational cohort study will be assessing parental stress, anxiety, and sense of belonging before and after participant attendance at the culturally concordant peer group session.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Parental stress | The degree of parental stress in the NICU will be assessed using the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit validated tool. The minimum and maximum values are 26 and 130 respectively, with higher scores indicating higher parental stress. | 1 week prior to 2 days after peer group session | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Parental sense of belonging | Sense of belonging will be assessed with three non-validated questions about community and within NICU sense of belonging questions. The scoring system is a 5-point Likert scale with an option for Not Applicable. The minimum and maximum score are 3 and 15 respectively, with higher scores indicating greater sense of belonging. | 2 days after peer group session | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Parental stress, Parental anxiety, NICU, Peer support