Impact of Implementing Reach Out and Read in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Developmental Promotion in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; A New Shared Reading Program

This is a pre/post quasi-interventional study with two arms. First, a baseline cohort of parent-infant dyads admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) were enrolled and surveyed at three timepoints (admission, discharge, and one-month post-discharge) to characterize baseline habits, attitudes, and barriers toward shared reading in the NICU in the absence of a shared reading program. Reach Out and Read (ROR) in the NICU, a shared reading program modified from the national ROR outpatient program to the NICU setting was then implemented. Following program implementation, a subsequent cohort of parent-infant dyads admitted to the NICU were enrolled (the "ROR" cohort) and surveyed at the same three timepoints. Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of ROR NICU to promote shared reading in the NICU were evaluated.

Parent-infant dyads were recruited with the following criteria:

Inclusion Criteria:

• New neonatal admission to the NICU at less than or equal to 14 days old
• Estimated length of stay 2 weeks or longer
• English or Spanish speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

• Nonviable neonates or those with uncertain viability
• Families with discontinuous social situations or parent/infant separation