Comparative efficacy of two kangaroo care scheduling methods on depressed mood and mental health in birthing parents of preterm infants: a randomized clinical trial.

Post-intervention depressed mood scores were significantly lower in both KC intervention groups compared to the control group.

• The Profile of Mood States Questionnaire (POMS) was used to measure depressed mood pre and post intervention.
• Post intervention, mean depressed mood scores in both intervention groups were statistically and significantly lower than control group scores (P < 0.05).
• The intervention spanned four weeks and was conducted exclusively in the home setting.
• 65 birthing parent-preterm infant pairs were allocated to each of the three groups.

Post-intervention total GHQ-28 scores and all subscale scores were significantly lower in both KC intervention groups compared to the control group.

• The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) was completed pre and post intervention.
• Total score and all subscales of GHQ-28 in both intervention groups were statistically and significantly lower than the control group post-intervention (P < 0.05).
• The GHQ-28 measures broader mental health across multiple subscales.
• Participants were birthing parents of preterm infants discharged from the NICU.

There was no statistically significant difference in depressed mood or mental health outcomes between the scheduled KC group and the unscheduled KC group.

• The scheduled KC group performed KC three times daily for a minimum of 30 minutes per session.
• The unscheduled KC group performed KC as often as desired during the day for a minimum of 30 minutes per session.
• No statistically significant difference was identified between the two intervention groups for either POMS depressed mood or GHQ-28 scores.
• This was described as the first study to compare the effectiveness of two different KC scheduling methods.

The study was a single-blind, randomized clinical trial with three parallel groups conducted in a home setting post-NICU discharge.

• 195 total participants were enrolled, with 65 pairs allocated to each of three groups: scheduled KC, unscheduled KC, and control.
• Continuous sampling was conducted using six blocks.
• The intervention spanned four weeks and was executed exclusively in the home setting.
• The study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20090810002324N19).

The authors concluded that unscheduled KC may be more practical and sustainable than scheduled KC given equivalent effectiveness.

• Both scheduled and unscheduled KC can be used to improve the mental health of birthing parents with preterm infants.
• As there is no statistically significant difference in effectiveness, the authors stated that 'the promotion of unscheduled KC may be more practical and thus more sustainable in this context.'
• Current scheduled KC recommendations were described as potentially impractical and not sustainable.
• Preterm birth was characterized as a significant public health issue with substantial effects on postpartum mental health.