Infants who require admission to a neonatal unit and who ultimately present with complex neurodevelopmental difficulties often require more sustained engagement with early intervention services during admission and beyond. However, there is little research exploring families' experiences of early intervention (EI) therapy received throughout a neonatal unit admission and continuing through transition into the community setting. This study was designed to explore parents' perceptions of EI therapy for infants with complex emerging neurodevelopmental difficulties. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, interviews were conducted with 6 mothers whose infants had been admitted to a neonatal unit and were receiving EI therapy services for their child. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed and then thematically analyzed. Four key themes emerged articulating the parent experiences during their evolving relationship with therapy providers in the neonatal unit and following discharge: (a) a vulnerable start—adjusting to the unexpected; (b) becoming a mother—becoming a family; (c) the therapy journey; and (d) a new reality. Attributes that enhanced the developing parent–provider relationship were identified including the importance of developing collaborative communication styles, supporting families in developing their expectations of the parent–provider relationship, and ensuring clarity in the nature, scope, and contribution of EI therapy to their child and overall family development. Early introduction of EI therapists during an infant's admission to a neonatal unit can serve to strengthen the parent–provider relationship by offering a support continuum during a vulnerable time.

中文翻译：

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“我们身边的常客”——母亲们为出现复杂神经发育障碍新征兆的婴儿提供早期干预治疗服务的经验

需要入住新生儿病房并最终出现复杂神经发育困难的婴儿通常需要在入院期间及之后更持续地参与早期干预服务。然而，很少有研究探讨家庭在新生儿病房住院期间接受早期干预 (EI) 治疗并继续过渡到社区环境的经历。本研究旨在探讨父母对患有复杂新出现神经发育困难的婴儿的 EI 治疗的看法。使用描述性定性方法，对 6 位母亲进行了访谈，她们的婴儿已入住新生儿病房并正在为其孩子接受 EI 治疗服务。采访被录音和转录，然后进行主题分析。出现了四个关键主题，阐明了父母在与新生儿病房治疗提供者的关系不断发展和出院后的经历：(a) 脆弱的开始——适应意外；(b) 成为母亲——成为一个家庭；(c) 治疗旅程；(d) 一个新的现实。确定了加强发展中的父母 - 提供者关系的属性，包括发展协作沟通方式的重要性，支持家庭发展他们对父母 - 提供者关系的期望，以及确保 EI 治疗的性质、范围和对孩子的贡献的清晰性和家庭的整体发展。在婴儿期间尽早引入 EI 治疗师