University of Minnesota
This feasibility study will evaluate delivery of the Supporting Play Exploration and Early Development Intervention after neonatal intensive care unit discharge for very preterm infants and their families. Parent-preterm infant dyads will be assigned to homebased SPEEDI, telehealth SPEEDI, or a control group. SPEEDI is an early developmental intervention focused on supporting parent confidence, interpretation of infant behavioral cues, and parent-infant relationship building through developmentally appropriate play. The study will assess feasibility of initiating SPEEDI 1 to 5 days after NICU discharge, including recruitment, retention, session attendance, activity log completion, intervention adherence, and delivery differences between homebased and telehealth SPEEDI. Family experiences and provider perspectives on strengths and barriers to SPEEDI implementation will also be evaluated.
Very preterm infants and their families may experience challenges during the transition from the neonatal intensive care unit to home. Early intervention during this transition may support parent-infant relationships, infant development, and family confidence. This feasibility study will evaluate whether the Supporting Play Exploration and Early Development Intervention can be initiated 1 to 5 days after NICU discharge and delivered in either homebased or telehealth contexts. The study will enroll 40 parent-preterm infant dyads from the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital NICU…
Inclusion Criteria: * Written informed consent obtained from participant and ability for participant to comply with study requirements * Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures, including consenting parent attendance at all study assessment and intervention visits * Stated willingness to comply with assignment to the homebased, telehealth, or control group * Infant gestational age of less than 32 weeks at birth * Infant hospitalized for more than 28 days following preterm birth * Infant discharged from the NICU between 35 and 44 weeks postmenstrual age * Consenting parent plans…
The SPEEDI intervention is an early developmental intervention grounded in positive parent-infant relationship building. Homebased SPEEDI will be delivered in the family home over 10 sessions across 15 weeks after baseline. The intervention supports parents in interpreting infant behavioral cues and stress signs, building parent confidence, and engaging the infant in developmentally appropriate therapeutic play.
Telehealth SPEEDI will deliver the SPEEDI intervention remotely over 10 sessions across 15 weeks after baseline. Sessions will support parents in interpreting infant cues, increasing confidence, and engaging the infant in developmentally appropriate play using telehealth-based coaching.