April 22, 2024: Dr. Christine Perez, Ph.D, BSN, RN, CEIM educates us: “Exploring Infant Massage as Standard Nonpharmacological Treatment for Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome”
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Nurturing in the NICU
In this episode of the Infant Massage USA podcast, head into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for an interview with Dr. Christine Perez, who shares stories about how nurturing touch makes NICU environments feel more emotionally safe when families really need that. Don't miss it!
Monday Morning Magic from Inkandescent® PR + Publishing Co. — “The opioid epidemic in the United States has increased opioid use in women of reproductive age, leading to in utero exposure causing withdrawal symptoms in newborns known as neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS),” explains Dr. Christine Perez in her July 2022 dissertation for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, PhD Public Health, at Walden University.
“State perinatal quality collaboratives (SPQCs) have been used in hospitals with quality initiatives (QIs) to improve standardization for NOWS; however, there remains a gap in knowledge in interventions to support the mother-infant dyad such as infant massage,” she explains. “This general qualitative research study explored the process and experiences of implementing infant massage as a standard practice for NOWS to inform national, state, and local policy. Participants in the study included two registered nurses (RNs) and nine occupational therapists (OTs) who care for infants with NOWS in birthing hospitals and use infant massage as a nonpharmacological intervention.”
Data collection: Virtual interviews followed a semi-structured interview protocol. Data analysis followed the framework approach using transcripts and the ATLAS. ti computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software to identify reoccurring themes.
Six themes emerged: These included the need for a family-centered individualized nonpharmacological approach and a core certified team to drive culture change to standardize infant massage as a nonpharmacological intervention for NOWS.
Christine’s conclusion: Standardizing care for NOWS that supports the mother-infant dyad beginning at birth may create positive social change by decreasing admittance to NICUs, LOS, separation, healthcare provider stigma, and variability in care while increasing parental empowerment, and supporting bonding, reducing utilization of social services and healthcare systems while improving overall outcomes for a vulnerable population.
She shares: “I believe that the greatest attribute of both nursing and public health professions is the ability to promote positive social change to improve lives for patients, families, and communities through collaborations, research, education, change management, policy, and high-quality, equitable care.”
Click here to read the entire dissertation.
Check out her webinars and podcast:
- Infant Massage for Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (Above)
- Supporting NICU Families During Times of Separation (webinar)
- Nurturing in the NICU (Podcast on Spotify, and above)
Scroll down to learn more about Christine!
Until next Monday: May education be your guide! — Hope Katz Gibbs, founder and president, Inkandescent® Inc. Inkandescent.us
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About Dr. Christine Perez, Ph.D, BSN, RN, CEIM: Christine holds a Ph.D. in Public Health specializing in Community Health and Education and is a Registered Nurse with over 25 years of experience working with neonatal and pediatric populations. During her NICU career, she had the opportunity to work as a travel nurse for 8yrs in 18 different NICUs across the country, primarily level III/ IV, leading to extensive knowledge of best practices. She was a NICU Nurse Educator for a 36-bed level IV NICU in charge of staff education, new hire orientation, research, implementation of Evidence-Based Practice, and policy and procedure updates.
Her current position is the National Clinical Improvement Thought Leader NICU for Philips Healthcare. She is responsible for identifying gaps in the NICU space and developing clinical services to improve the overall quality of care through education and change management, including family-centered developmental care. She is passionate about improving neonatal care, promoting early intervention, and family-centered care, particularly in vulnerable populations.
Family-centered developmental care has always been her passion, beginning with her developmental certification in 2001 and her involvement in family-centered care committees. She has also been internationally certified in infant massage since 2014. She has presented nationally on various topics, including “Supporting NICU Families During Separation, “ “Transformational Leadership Opioid Epidemic Perinatal Environment,” “Breastfeeding Benefits and Barriers in the Drug Exposed Infant, “Back to Sleep Positioning NICU to Home,” “The Journey to Baby- Friendly,” “Opioid Epidemic in the Perinatal Environment,” “Transformational Leadership’s role in Opioid Crisis, ”Redefining the Essential Care Team,” as well as featured in the San Diego Tribune for Safe Sleep and an International Podcast for compassionate neonatal care.
Her research study, “Exploring Infant Massage as Standard Nonpharmacological Treatment for Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome”, explored infant massage as a nonpharmacological intervention for Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome, identifying facilitators and barriers to standardizing nonpharmacological care.
She co-authored a quantitative research study on Antibiotic Stewardship in the NICU. She also advocates for improving maternal child health and is a co-author of the American Public Health Association National Public Health Late Breaker Policy LB21-02, Expanding Medicaid Coverage for Birthing People to One Year Postpartum.