Longitudinal Study of Music Therapy’s Effectiveness for Premature Infants and Their Caregivers (LongSTEP): Feasibility Study With a Norwegian Cohort

Abstract Premature infants and their parents experience significant stress during the perinatal period. Music therapy (MT) may support maternal–infant bonding this critical period, but studies measuring impact across infant’s first year are lacking. This nonrandomized feasibility study used quantitative qualitative methods within a realist perspective to evaluate feasibility, acceptability, suitability of treatment arm Longitudinal Study music Therapy’s Effectiveness for caregivers (LongSTEP) (NCT03564184) trial with Norwegian cohort (N = 3). Families were offered MT emphasizing parent-led infant-directed singing neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization 3 months post-discharge. We inductive thematic analysis semi-structured interviews at discharge from NICU analyzed variables descriptively. Findings indicate that: (1) premature willing participate in research where parental voice is main means musical interaction; (2) generally engage post-discharge phases, finding it particularly interesting note infant responsiveness interaction over time; (3) seek information about aims specific processes involved MT; (4) selected self-reports reasonable complete; (5) Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire appears be suitable measure impaired bonding. Parents reported that they able transfer resources honed parent–infant interactions outside recognized as central building relation infants. Results inform implementation subsequent multinational will address an important gap knowledge.