Document Type

Presentation -- MUSC Only

Publication Date

2025

Faculty Mentor

Brooke Mulrenin

Abstract

This doctoral capstone project was completed in collaboration with Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital, located in Charleston, South Carolina. The project focused on promoting adherence to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) safe sleep guidelines through the implementation of a pilot study on the hospital’s cardiac unit. Due to the complex medical needs of infants on this unit, safe sleep practices were often inconsistently followed or adapted. By implementing a pilot study utilizing the PA Safe Sleep Program, this project aimed to enhance knowledge, confidence, and consistency in safe sleep practices among healthcare providers and caregivers. This interdisciplinary initiative involved collaboration between a doctoral capstone student, the hospital’s injury prevention coordinator, nursing leadership, occupational therapists, physical therapists, physicians, and other key safe sleep stakeholders. This collaboration allowed for the integration of diverse clinical perspectives which strengthened the initiative’s impact on education, environmental adaptation, and hospital policy.

The primary goals of the project were to: (1) improve understanding of AAP safe sleep guidelines through the use of targeted educational resources and training modules, (2) increase healthcare providers’ confidence in reinforcing safe sleep practices, and (3) develop sustainable, user-friendly tools to support safe sleep adherence. Key deliverables included updated crib cards, badge buddies, accountability checklists, a cardiac-unit-specific safe sleep algorithm, and a revised training video addressing frequently observed unsafe sleep practices. A mixed methods quality improvement design was used. Data were collected through pre- and post-implementation crib audits, healthcare provider and caregiver surveys via REDCap, and video analytics. Results demonstrated a 98.6% decrease in unsafe items found in cribs, increased use of hands-on demonstrations and visual aids in caregiver education, and positive feedback on the relevance and accessibility of the training materials. Staff reported regularly using the resources to educate families, guide clinical decision-making, and reinforce hospital policies.

Occupational therapy’s unique perspective on caregiver education, environmental adaptation, and infant positioning offers valuable contributions to initiatives aimed at reducing sleep-related infant deaths. The partnership between OT and other disciples brought added value by aligning safety-focused practice with holistic, client-centered care. By supporting interdisciplinary collaboration and addressing environmental and behavioral barriers, the project offers a replicable model for promoting safe sleep practices and reducing the risk of sleep-related infant deaths in pediatric hospital settings.

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