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Music therapy in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is often restricted to infants and families most in need because of limited time. This study explored the translation of basic aspects of the therapist-delivered contingent singing method into a program of parent-infant interaction information. A purposive sample of 13 mothers evaluated the parent education program called Time Together. The feasibility issues of acceptability and implementation were qualitatively evaluated using Rallis and Rossman's (2003) program evaluation method to identify both strengths and weaknesses. Participants reported the program to be useful, with the most positive response for the content about infant behavioral cues for interaction. The weakest aspects of translation were for key language and some aspects of visual content in the program booklet. Findings indicated that for these participants, the Time Together program provided meaningful learning about parent-infant interaction in one session. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The purpose of this study is to characterise ambient sound levels of paediatric and neonatal intensive care units in an old and new hospital according to current standards.Methods: The sound environment was surveyed for 24-h data collection periods (n = 80) in the Neonatal and Paediatric Intensive Care Units (NICUs and PICUs) and Special Care Nursery of the old and new Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. The ambient sound environment was characterised as the proportion of time the ongoing ambient sound met standard benchmarks, the mean 5-s sound levels and the number and duration of noise events.Results: In the old hospital, none of the data collection periods in the NICU and PICU met the standard benchmark for ongoing ambient sound, while only 5 of the 22 data collection periods in the new hospital met the recommended level. There was no change in proportion of time at recommended Leq between the old and the new Special Care Nursery. There was strong evidence for a difference in the mean number of events >65 dBA (Lmax ) in the old and new hospital (rate ratio = 0.82, 95% confidence interval: 0.73 to 0.92, P = 0.001). The NICU and PICU were above 50 dBA in 75% of all data collection periods, with ventilatory equipment associated with higher ongoing ambient sound levels.Conclusions: The ongoing ambient sound suggests that the background sound environment of the new hospital is not different to the old hospital. However, there may be a reduction in the number of noise events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Working in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) is considered to be advanced practice for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) requiring post-graduate specialised education and ongoing clinical mentoring, not easily accessible within some countries such as Australia. This review investigated whether there was evidence to support SLPs as core NICU team members, rather than fleeting therapists. The review found that the roles and responsibilities of SLPs in NICUs included assessment and intervention of preterm infant communication, feeding and swallowing using a family-centred approach. This approach was respectful of the cultural and linguistic diversity of the parents and the particular expertise of other NICU team members. Whilst there has been a significant and promising increase in research with regard to SLP involvement with preterm infants (especially around feeding and swallowing assessment and specific treatments), the need for high-quality well-designed research is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Each year thousands of pregnant women experiencing threatened premature labour are transferred considerable distances across Australia to access higher level facilities but only a small proportion of these women go on to actually give birth to a premature baby. Women from regional areas are required to move away from their home, children and support networks because of a perceived risk of birthing in a centre without neonatal intensive care facilities., Aim: This study examines the experience of women undergoing antenatal transfer for threatened premature labour in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory who do not give birth during their transfer admission., Methods: Thirteen semi-structured in-depth interviews were held with women across five tertiary referral sites across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, and analysed until saturation for themes., Findings: Seven urban and six rural women were interviewed. Women and their families were all negatively affected by antenatal transfer. Factors that helped enable a positive experience were; enhanced sense of safety in the tertiary unit, and individual qualities of staff. Factors that contributed to negative experiences were; inadequate and conflicting information, and no involvement or choice in the clinical decision-making process to move to another facility., Conclusions: Antenatal transfer is an extremely stressful experience for women and their families. The provision of high quality written and verbal information, and the inclusion of women's perception of risk in the clinical decision making process will improve the experience for women and their families in NSW and the ACT., (Copyright © 2019 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)