Prematurity is a worldwide healthcare problem affecting 15 million births every year. Having a child that is born prematurely brings forth numerous challenges, placing significant stress on families, impacting family dynamics and overall well-being. In addition, advancements in perinatal health care have increased the survival rates of premature infants, placing most infants at higher risk for complex medical needs and developmental impairments that extend beyond discharge from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Research shows that while parental psychological support is provided while in the hospital and the infant may receive allied health services for developmental care, these services are often delayed, not accessible or discontinued following discharge. A two-part educational initiative called “The Preemie Toolkit” is introduced in this doctoral project, guided by evidence and the Knowledge to Action theoretical framework. This initiative aims to fill the identified gap in care and provide accessible knowledge and support for families living in northeast Pennsylvania during this critical period. The project highlights the vital role of occupational therapists in enhancing support for preterm infants and their families. By providing a feasible avenue to provide comprehensive care and support, families will be able to navigate the complexities of caring for their premature infants with greater confidence and well-being during the first few weeks at home until other services begin. This doctoral project includes a plan for program evaluation, funding and dissemination.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/46609 |
| Date | 24 August 2023 |
| Creators | Steinke, Erika |
| Contributors | Vax, Sigal, Jacobs, Karen |
| Source Sets | Boston University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
| Rights | Attribution 4.0 International, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
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