Early intervention (EI) programmes are reported to have an impact on parent‐child interaction. CareToy System (CT) is a new technological tool for an intensive, individualized, home‐based and family‐centred EI in preterm infants. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of CT training in stimulating the caregiver‐infant interaction in a pilot study of the RCT (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01990183). We developed an ad hoc questionnaire with the aim of exploring, before CT training, parents’ expectations on the trial and the abilities of their infants and, after the CT training period of four weeks, their opinion about CT System use and the changes in infant's development and their interaction. Eight families so far have filled in the questionnaire. The majority of them (6/8) expected a significant improvement of child development. After CT training all families (8/8) judged CT experience as positive, evaluating as simple (6/8) or rather simple (2/8) the system management. Training activities were considered as well personalized (3/8) or enough personalized (5/8) for infants’ needs. Parents reported positive changes in their interaction with the infants (6/8), increasing the verbal and non‐verbal features, as smile and eye‐eye contact. Parents also described an increased time spent in sharing play‐time (4/8 largely, 3/8 a bit) and to have learned new playing activities (6/8), with positive effects on interaction. CT training seems to be effective in promoting parents‐infant interaction. This work was supported by the CareToy EU project (GA: 287932; 7FP, ICT‐2011‐7).
Effects of CareToy early intervention on parents-infant interaction: preliminary findings
Sgandurra G.;Cioni G.
2015-01-01
Abstract
Early intervention (EI) programmes are reported to have an impact on parent‐child interaction. CareToy System (CT) is a new technological tool for an intensive, individualized, home‐based and family‐centred EI in preterm infants. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of CT training in stimulating the caregiver‐infant interaction in a pilot study of the RCT (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01990183). We developed an ad hoc questionnaire with the aim of exploring, before CT training, parents’ expectations on the trial and the abilities of their infants and, after the CT training period of four weeks, their opinion about CT System use and the changes in infant's development and their interaction. Eight families so far have filled in the questionnaire. The majority of them (6/8) expected a significant improvement of child development. After CT training all families (8/8) judged CT experience as positive, evaluating as simple (6/8) or rather simple (2/8) the system management. Training activities were considered as well personalized (3/8) or enough personalized (5/8) for infants’ needs. Parents reported positive changes in their interaction with the infants (6/8), increasing the verbal and non‐verbal features, as smile and eye‐eye contact. Parents also described an increased time spent in sharing play‐time (4/8 largely, 3/8 a bit) and to have learned new playing activities (6/8), with positive effects on interaction. CT training seems to be effective in promoting parents‐infant interaction. This work was supported by the CareToy EU project (GA: 287932; 7FP, ICT‐2011‐7).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
