Therapy BRIDGE (Bringing Real-Time Instruction Via Developmental and Gestationally-appropriate Education/Coaching) Program: A Pilot Study

Infants born preterm are often medically complex and at high-risk for neurodevelopmental challenges. During their Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) stay, infants and caregivers receive continuous support and have constant access to a variety of specialists. Research has shown that caregiver involvement in their infant's care in the NICU helps to improve outcomes. However, caring for these infants upon discharge can be overwhelming to caregivers. Currently, there is no formal intervention in place to support caregivers as they transition their infant home. The overall objectives of the Therapy BRIDGE program are to (1) create a novel caregiver education and coaching intervention focused on infant development and caregiver needs to "bridge the gap" during the NICU to home transition and (2) pilot test the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of this program for infants with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and their caregivers.

A standardized education and coaching intervention will be developed to promote optimal neurodevelopmental outcomes through caregiver empowerment. This pilot study will enroll up to 15 infants with IVH and their caregivers during their NICU stay. These infant-caregiver dyads will receive up to 10 sessions utilizing the Therapy BRIDGE program over a four-month period that spans the hospital to home transition. Feasibility and acceptability will be measured with caregiver and therapist questionnaires using a 5-point Likert Scale. Intervention efficacy will be measured by administering the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) before and after completion of the program and evaluating change scores.

Inclusion criteria

for infant participants:

• A diagnosis of IVH, regardless of age at time of enrollment
• Admission to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital NICU

Inclusion criteria

for caregiver participants:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Can provide written consent
• Able to participate in the sessions and data collection process

Exclusion criteria

for infant and caregiver participants:

• Transfer out of the NICU prior to discharge or require tracheostomy with ventilator dependence as they will not be discharged directly from the CCHMC NICU
• Infants and caregivers who live outside of the CCHMC service area and will not be eligible for follow up with CCHMC therapies will be excluded.