Family Integrated Care (FICare): Positive impact on behavioural outcomes at 18 months

Abstract Background Children born very preterm demonstrate behavioural challenges due to clinical factors, exposure to the high stress environment of intensive care, and separation from parents during neonatal hospitalization at a critical stage in development. Family Integrated Care (FICare) significantly reduced parent stress and anxiety, and improved neonatal outcomes. Aims To examine the impact of FICare on behavioural outcomes at 18–21 months corrected age (CA), and assess possible mediation through parenting or infant growth. Study design and methods A prospective cohort study enrolling infants under 33 weeks gestation and parents from the FICare cluster randomized controlled trial. Primary outcome was behaviour assessed by the Infant Toddler Social Emotional Assessment (ITSEA). Parent child variables were measured with the Nursing Child Assessment Satellite Training (NCAST), Parenting Stress Index (PSI) and infant growth. Results Subjects included 123 FICare infants and 62 standard care controls evaluated at 18–21 months CA. FICare infants demonstrated lower ITSEA Dysregulation, indicating better self-regulation skills, compared with the control group (T-score 41.7 vs 46.6, p  Conclusion FICare in the NICU has a sustained effect on child behaviour, improving self-regulation at 18–21 months CA.