Objective Test web-based implementation for the science of enhancing resilience (WISER) intervention efficacy in reducing healthcare worker (HCW) burnout. Design RCT using two cohorts of HCWs of four NICUs each, to improve HCW well-being (primary outcome: burnout). Cohort 1 received WISER while Cohort 2 acted as a waitlist control. Results Cohorts were similar, mostly female (83%) and nurses (62%). In Cohorts 1 and 2 respectively, 182 and 299 initiated WISER, 100 and 176 completed 1-month follow-up, and 78 and 146 completed 6-month follow-up. Relative to control, WISER decreased burnout (−5.27 (95% CI: −10.44, −0.10), p = 0.046). Combined adjusted cohort results at 1-month showed that the percentage of HCWs reporting concerning outcomes was significantly decreased for burnout (−6.3% (95%CI: −11.6%, −1.0%); p = 0.008), and secondary outcomes depression (−5.2% (95%CI: −10.8, −0.4); p = 0.022) and work-life integration (−11.8% (95%CI: −17.9, −6.1); p < 0.001). Improvements endured at 6 months. Conclusion WISER appears to durably improve HCW well-being. Clinical Trials Number NCT02603133; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02603133

This study highlights the need for more objective tools to quantify withdrawal severity given that assessments are the primary driver of pharmacological management in neonatal drug withdrawal.Video Abstract available at https://journals.lww.com/advancesinneonatalcare/Pages/videogallery.aspx.

Objective To characterize the rate of monitoring alarms by alarm priority, signal type and developmental age in a Level-IIIB Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) population. Study Design Retrospective analysis of 2 294 687 alarm messages from Philips monitors in a convenience sample of 917 NICU patients, covering 12 001 patient-days. We stratified alarm rates by alarm priority, signal type, postmenstrual age (PMA), and birth weight (BW) and reviewed and adjudicated over 21 000 critical alarms. Results Of all alarms, 3.6% were critical alarms, 55.0% were advisory alarms, and 41.4% were device alerts. Over 60% of alarms related to oxygenation monitoring. The average alarm rate (±SEM) was 177.1±4.9 [median: 135.9; IQR: 89.2–213.3] alarms/patient-day; the medians varied significantly with PMA and BW (p<0.001) in U-shaped patterns, with higher rates at lower and higher PMA and BW. Based on waveform reviews, over 99% of critical arrhythmia alarms were deemed technically false. Conclusions The alarm burden in this NICU population is very significant; the average alarm rate significantly underrepresents alarm rates at low and high PMA and BW. Virtually all critical arrhythmia alarms were artifactual.

Objective Assess practices supporting care transitions for infants and families in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) using a model of four key drivers: communication, teamwork, family integration, and standardization. Study design Single-day audit among NICUs in the Vermont Oxford Network Critical Transitions collaborative addressing policies and practices supporting the four key drivers during admission, discharge, shift-to-shift handoffs, within hospital transfers, and select changes in clinical status. Results Among 95 NICUs, the median hospital rate of audited policies in place addressing the four key drivers were 47% (inter-quartile range (IQR) 35-65%) for communication, 67% (IQR 33-83%) for teamwork, 50% (IQR 33-61%) for family integration, and 70% (IQR 56-85%) for standardization. Of the 2462 infants included, 1066 (43%) experienced ≥1 specified transition during the week prior to the audit. Conclusions We identified opportunities for improving NICU transitions in areas of communication, teamwork, family integration, and standardization.

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Maternal milk (MM) intake during neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization is associated with improved neurodevelopment in preterm infants. Underlying mechanisms may include stronger mother–infant emotional connection. This paper examines associations between MM provision in the NICU with maternal connection to her infant using three factors validated in our sample: maternal sensitivity, emotional concern, and positive interaction/engagement. We studied 70 mothers of infants born <1500 g and/or <32 weeks’ gestation. Associations between MM provision and mother–infant connection were modeled using median regression adjusted for clustering. Mothers who provided exclusive MM (i.e., 100% MM, no other milk) reported higher levels of maternal sensitivity by a median score of 2 units (β = 2.00, 95% CI: 0.76, 3.24, p = 0.002) than the mixed group (i.e., MM < 100% days, other milk ≥1 days), as well as greater emotional concern (β = 3.00, 95% CI: −0.002, 6.00, p = 0.05). Among mothers of very preterm infants, greater milk provision was associated with greater maternal sensitivity, but also with greater emotional concern about meeting the infant’s needs. These findings highlight the importance of supporting MM provision and early infant care as an integrated part of lactation support. The findings may also provide insight into links between MM provision in the NICU and infant neurodevelopment.

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