An Internet-Based Developmental Home Care Support Program Improved Maternal Psychological Symptoms and Infant Growth: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the effects of an internet-based Developmental Home Care Support program (DHCSP) to reduce maternal psychological symptoms and improve preterm infants' physical growth outcomes.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted. The mother-infant dyads (nm = 34, np = 40) were randomly assigned to either the DHCSP intervention group or the control group. Data were collected at discharge (T0), 1-month corrected age (T1), and 2-month follow-up (T2), including mothers' postpartum depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and mother-proxy infants' body length, weight, and head circumference.

Results: There were no significant differences in sociodemographic characteristics between the 2 groups at T0, except for mothers' age and monthly household income (both P = .01). Mothers in the DHCSP group reported significantly higher decreases in depression symptoms (β = -2.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], -4.31 to -0.16, P = .03), and their preterm infants showed significantly more increases in body length (β = 2.09; 95% CI, 0.30-3.87, P = .02) than the control participants at T2. The 2 groups did not show significant differences in mothers' PTSD symptoms or infants' body weight and head circumference.

Conclusion: The internet-based DHCSP intervention was effective in improving mothers' depressive symptoms and infants' body length.