Date of Award
2022
Document Type
Scholarly Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Department
Occupational Therapy
First Advisor
Julie Grabanski
Abstract
Transitional Caregiver Support from NICU to Early Intervention Services. Sophia B. Schutt, Dr. Julie Grabanski, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences, 501 North Columbia Road, Grand Forks, ND 58202
Purpose: The purpose of this project was to develop an occupation-based educational product for caregivers leaving the NICU setting and transitioning into early intervention services. The project is aimed at assessing and reducing caregiver stress levels and increasing co-occupational outcomes with their infants.
Methods: A needs assessment was conducted to evaluate the gap in caregiver education during the transition in care. The educational gap was further gauged through an extensive literature review. The literature review focused on uncovering the occupational needs of the caregivers and infants in the NICU and early intervention setting. From the literature review, the most common occupations/co-occupations that needed further caregiver education were identified including feeding, sleep, diaper changes (toileting), bathing, safety, touch-based interventions (kangaroo care, infant massage), and positioning.
Results: The educational product was created based on the Person-Environment-Occupation Model of Occupational Performance and adult learning principles. The product, Transitional Caregiver Support from NICU to Early Intervention Services, provides the caregivers and OTs with educational materials on co-occupations for preemie infants, safety recommendations, mental health assessment, and mental health strategies.
Conclusions: Upon leaving the NICU setting the literature has shown that caregivers experienced increased mental health barriers and confusion with educational medical materials. Therefore, it is important that caregivers are equipped with proper education that fits their needs, information on the benefits of accessing early intervention services, and provides them with mental health support. Limitations regarding the product include that is specific to the NICU, early intervention population, and currently has not been implemented into OT clinical practice.
Recommended Citation
Schutt, Sophia, "Transitional Caregiver Support from NICU to Early Intervention Services." (2022). Occupational Therapy Capstones. 537.
https://commons.und.edu/ot-grad/537