Call for Projects
Tell us in 150-200 words how you turned your clinical practice into research for the
VPA Professional Development Seminar 16th September 2015
Turning Psychological Practice into Research
Presentation time: 20 minutes
Project Title: Reflecting on Babies in NICU: The ROBIN study
Name(s) of presenter (s): Dr Megan Chapman
Organisation and practice setting:Infant Mental Health Program, Mental Health, Royal Children’s Hospital
Aims (clinical and research) and Methods (description of intervention or initiative):
The ROBIN study is a longitudinal cohort study exploring the biopsychosocial profiles of infants admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care, and the psychosocial profiles of their families. These profiles are being analysed to determine whether there are distinct risk factors or patterns that can be identified which are indicative of emerging psychosocial difficulties arising for any of the infant, the parent, or the parent infant relationship, with a view to offering a targeted infant mental health assessment and early intervention to treat or circumvent emerging difficulties. This research is particularly interested in the psychosocial experience and outcomes of these infants and their families, and whether the parent capacity to reflect on the infant's world beyond simply their medical symptomatology, that is, to display parental reflective functioning, is helpful in understanding the diversity of psychosocial outcomes for this population.
Findings (preliminary, final or when you expect them):
The study is still in the data collection phase.
Barriers encountered (e.g. administrative, inter-professional, human and physical resources, management, accommodation etc.):
There were a variety of barriers that were encountered in establishing the study, and in the ongoing running of the research, including the capacity to quarantine research time and space, and having others respect that. Open plan work environments add to the challenge of this. The standard issues of funding, and juggling roles and responsibilities exist within this project.
Resources and strategies used to negotiate barriers(e.g. funding, support staff, consultation, supervision, students, senior staff support, steering group, university support etc.):
There are a variety of things that enabled this research to happen, including the direct translational value of the research, a research culture of the campus, strong support from colleagues. And chocolate, lots of chocolate.
Return to by 31st July 2015 Final program will be notified by mid August