Exploring early intervention models at home to support the development of preterm infants: A literature review to guide professionals and involve parents.

BACKGROUND

Prematurity a critical determinant of infant's neurodevelopmental outcomes. Parents of preterm infants are more likely to experience mental health issues during and following hospitalization, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety. Given that at-risk infants are particularly sensitive to the beneficial and harmful effects of their environment, care for vulnerable newborns should not be limited to the period of hospitalization.

AIMS: The present research aims to explore early home-based intervention models that may be most appropriate for supporting the development of preterm infants.

METHODS

To achieve this objective, a literature review was conducted according to PICO framework and PRISMA method. Articles were included if published between 2008 and 2023. Eligible interventions had to meet the following criteria: take place in the home environment, whether initiated during hospitalization or post-discharge; occur within the first year of life; aim to support psychomotor, cognitive, motor, or emotional development, parent-child interaction, and/or parental mental health.

RESULTS

28 studies were identified and included in the final analysis. Several programs demonstrating benefits for the infant, the parents, and their interactions. These results highlight a relevant intervention model that targets psychomotor development (motor, emotional and cognitive domains), parental support (including mental health and parent-child interactions) and environmental adaptations (particularly sensory stimuli), rather than focusing solely on child development.

CONCLUSION

This review underscores the lack of specific recommendations in the literature regarding the content of early home-based interventions for preterm infants and their families, despite documented effectiveness of several programs.