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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2025 Jan;114(1):74-82.
doi: 10.1111/apa.17399. Epub 2024 Aug 31.

Parent-child interaction after home-visiting intervention for children born extremely preterm-A randomised clinical trial

Erika Baraldi  1 , Mara Westling Allodi  1 , Kristina Löwing  2   3 , Noni Wadström  2   4 , Ann-Charlotte Smedler  5 , Maria Örtqvist  2   3 , Björn Westrup  2 , Ulrika Ådén  2   4   6
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Parent-child interaction after home-visiting intervention for children born extremely preterm-A randomised clinical trial

Erika Baraldi et al. Acta Paediatr. 2025 Jan.

Abstract

Aim: To determine whether a strength-based home-visiting program enhances parent-child interaction during the first year at home for children born extremely preterm (gestational age < 28).

Methods: A randomised controlled trial of 130 infants born extremely preterm 2018-2021 in Stockholm, allocated to either the Stockholm preterm interaction-based intervention (SPIBI) (n = 66) or an extended follow-up program (n = 64). The intervention group received ten home visits during the first year by a trained interventionist following SPIBI guidelines: an interaction-based intervention supporting sensitive parental responses to infants' signals. The primary outcome of emotional availability was assessed at 12 months corrected age (CA) using the emotional availability scales (EAS).

Results: At 1-year CA, data were collected from 115/130 (89%) of the included children. There were no significant group differences in emotional availability at 12 months CA. A secondary analysis showed an effect modifier in families with mothers self-rated as depressed at discharge, with the outcome favouring intervention in the EAS dimension of child involvement.

Conclusion: The SPIBI had no significant main effect on emotional availability at 12 months CA. Children of self-reported depressed mothers displayed superior involvement behaviour in the intervention group, prompting further research on risk groups and potential modifications of post-discharge interventions.

Keywords: early intervention; emotional availability; parent–child interaction; preterm infant; randomised controlled trial.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Consolidated standards of reporting trials flow‐chart.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Study outline.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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