Feasibility of a Relaxation Guided Imagery Intervention to Reduce Maternal Stress in the NICU

Objective: To test the feasibility of a relaxation guided imagery (RGI) intervention for mothers of hospitalized preterm infants and to explore the biobehavioral effects of RGI on their distress, responsiveness, and physiological stress. Design: Single sample, pretest-posttest design. Setting: A large Level III NICU in Southern California. Participants: Twenty mothers of hospitalized preterm infants (24-32 weeks gestational age). Methods: Correlational analyses of RGI use with self-reported measures of distress (perceived stress, state anxiety, and depression symptoms), awakening salivary cortisol level, and salivary cortisol awakening response collected from mothers at baseline and after 8 weeks of an RGI intervention. Results: Nineteen mothers completed the study. Average use of RGI varied from 1.7 to 7.4 times per week (mean = 4.46, standard deviation = 2.7). Greater average use of RGI was correlated with lower awakening cortisol levels (r = -.38), greater cortisol awakening response (r =.36), and lower levels of distress (perceived stress [r = -.38], anxiety [r = -.43], and depression [r = -.41]). Conclusion: Relaxation guided imagery may be a feasible and acceptable intervention to reduce mental and physiologic stress and improve responsiveness in mothers of hospitalized preterm infants

Patterned feeding experience for preterm infants: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background Neurobehavioral disabilities occur in 5–15 % of preterm infants with an estimated 50–70 % of very low birth weight preterm infants experiencing later dysfunction, including cognitive, behavioral, and social delays that often persist into adulthood. Factors implicated in poor neurobehavioral and developmental outcomes are hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and inconsistent caregiving patterns. Although much underlying brain damage occurs in utero or shortly after birth, neuroprotective strategies can stop lesions from progressing, particularly when these strategies are used during the most sensitive periods of neural plasticity occurring months before term age. The purpose of this randomized trial is to test the effect of a patterned feeding experience on preterm infants’ neurobehavioral organization and development, cognitive function, and clinical outcomes. Methods This trial uses an experimental, longitudinal, 2-group design with 120 preterm infants. Infants are enrolled within the first week of life and randomized to an experimental group receiving a patterned feeding experience from the first gavage feeding through discharge or to a control group receiving usual feeding care experience. The intervention involves a continuity of tactile experiences associated with feeding to train and build neuronal networks supportive of normal infant feeding experience. Primary outcomes are neurobehavioral organization as measured by Neurobehavioral Assessment of the Preterm Infant at 3 time points: the transition to oral feedings, NICU discharge, and 2 months corrected age. Secondary aims are cognitive function measured using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition at 6 months corrected age, neurobehavioral development (sucking organization, feeding performance, and heart rate variability), and clinical outcomes (length of NICU stay and time to full oral feeding). The potential effects of demographic and biobehavioral factors (perinatal events and conditions of maternal or fetal/newborn origin and immunologic and genetic biomarkers) on the outcome variables will also be considered. Discussion Theoretically, the intervention provided at a critical time in neurologic system development and associated with a recurring event (feeding) should enhance neural connections that may be important for later development, particularly language and other cognitive and neurobehavioral organization skills

Development of a Regional Nursing Research Partnership for Academic and Practice Collaborations

Background. Collaborative nursing research across academic and practice settings is imperative to generate knowledge to improve patient care. Models of academic/practice partnerships for nursing research are lacking. This paper reports data collected before and during a one-day retreat for nurse researchers and administrators from local universities and health care organizations designed to establish a regional nursing research partnership. Methods. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to address the study aims: (1) to assess research involvement and institutional research resources; (2) to assess interest in and concerns regarding cross-institutional collaborations; and (3) to describe perceptions of the purpose of a partnership and resources needed to ensure success. Results. Participants (n = 49) had differing perceptions of accessibility to resources; participants in practice settings reported less accessibility to resources, notably grant development, informatics, and research assistant support. Participants were interested in collaboration although concerns about conflict of interest were expressed. Four themes related to partnering were identified: harnessing our nursing voice and identity; developing as researchers; staying connected; and positioning for a collaborative project. Conclusion. Academic-practice research collaborations will become increasingly important with health care system changes. Strategies to develop and sustain productive partnerships should be supported

Blastomere Analysis: Issues for Discussion

There has been little professional discussion about the implications of blastomere analysis for genetic screening. In this article, some of the legal, ethical, and practical issues associated with the technology are identified. Issues are categorized as those involving availability and payment, phenotype selection, and imperfect genes. Nurses need to be knowledgeable about these issues to participate in the formation of policies governing the use of blastomere analysis and other genetic screening procedures

The Technology and Use of Blastomere Analysis

With the use of blastomere analysis, it is possible to screen for serious genetic disease before initiating pregnancy through in vitro fertilization. The analysis provides information about an embryo's genetic composition before implantation. This article describes the technique of blastomere analysis and its current and potential uses. Implications for nursing practice and education are identified

Gene therapy for inherited disorders

With an increase in understanding of the role of genes in disease pathogenesis, gene therapy has become a reality for some disorders and an increased possibility for many others. One type of gene therapy requires only gene addition for treatment. Different methods for gene addition are being tested, based on the cell typology necessary to make the therapy effective. Gene therapy trials for patients with adenosine deaminase deficiency involve a retroviral approach. Gene therapy trials for patients with cystic fibrosis involve an adenoviral approach. This article describes the differences between these two methods of gene therapy. The application of this knowledge to pediatric nursing practice is discussed

Evolution and Development of Dual Ingestion Systems in Mammals: Notes on a New Thesis and Its Clinical Implications

Traditionally, the development of oral feeding is viewed as a continuous, unitary process in which reflex-dominated sucking behavior gives rise to a more varied and volitional feeding behavior. In contrast, we consider the thesis that the infant develops two separable ingestive systems, one for suckling and one for feeding. First, we apply an evolutionary perspective, recognizing that suckling-feeding is a universal, mammalian developmental sequence. We find that in mammalian evolution, feeding systems in offspring were established prior to the evolution of lactation, and therefore suckling is a separable feature that was added to feeding. We next review an experimental literature that characterizes suckling and feeding as separable in terms of their topography, sensory controls, physiological controls, neural substrates, and experience-based development. Together, these considerations constitute a view of “dual ingestive systems.” The thesis, then, is that suckling is not a simple precursor of feeding but is a complete behavior that emerges, forms, and then undergoes a dissolution that overlaps with the emergence of independent feeding. This thesis guides us to focus differently on the challenges of properly managing and facilitating oral ingestion in infants, especially those born preterm, prior to the developmental onset of suckling