Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the study participants.

From: Lactation-focused audio relaxation versus standard care for mothers of very preterm infants (the EXPRESS randomised clinical trial)

 

Relaxation group (n = 68)

Control group (n = 64)

Pregnancy gestation at birth (weeks)a, mean (SD)

27.8 (2.4)

27.8 (2.4)

Pregnancy gestation at birth (weeks)a, n (%)

 23 to <26 weeks

19 (28)

15 (23)

 26 to <28 weeks

17 (25)

20 (31)

 28 to <30 weeks

15 (22)

14 (22)

 30 to <32 weeks

17 (25)

15 (23)

Ethnic backgroundb, n (%)

 Asian or Asian British

8 (14)

14 (23)

 Black, African, Black British or Caribbean

10 (17)

11 (18)

 White or White British

38 (66)

34 (55)

 Mixed or multiple ethnic groups

0

3 (5)

 Other

2 (3)

0

 Missing/prefer not to say

10

3

Age (years), mean (SD)

33.1 (6.5)

32.4 (6.2)

 (Min to max)

(19 to 55)

(21 to 54)

Index of Multiple Deprivation quintilec, n (%)

 1 (Most deprived)

15 (22)

9 (14)

 2

9 (13)

17 (27)

 3

11 (16)

11 (18)

 4

15 (22)

16 (25)

 5 (Least deprived)

18 (27)

10 (16)

 Missing

0

1

Age at leaving full-time education, n (%)

 16 years old or less

5 (9)

9 (15)

 17 or 18 years old

11 (19)

13 (21)

 19 years old or more

42 (72)

40 (65)

 Missing/prefer not to say

10

2

Lives with a partner, n (%)

54 (92)

54 (87)

 Missing

9

2

Current smoker, n (%)

4 (7)

4 (7)

 Missing

9

2

Time from birth to first expression of milk (hours), median [IQR]

6 [2 to 12]

6 [3 to 12]

 (Min to max)

(0 to 96)

(0 to 72)

 Missing

9

3

Intention for exclusive breastmilk at discharge homed, n (%)

41 (70)

44 (71)

 Missing

9

2

Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Indexe score at randomisation, median [IQR]

50 [43 to 67]

50 [40 to 60]

 (Min to max)

(20 to 80)

(20 to 80)

 Score >40

43 (78)

37 (67)

 Missing

13

9

Mode of birth, n (%)

 Vaginal birth

25 (37)

32 (50)

 Caesarean birth

43 (63)

32 (50)

Multiple pregnancya, n (%)

11 (16)

9 (14)

Recruiting centrea, n (%)

 1

39 (57)

38 (59)

 2

17 (25)

15 (23)

 3

5 (7)

5 (8)

 4

7 (10)

6 (9)

Infant born in recruiting centre, n (%)

66 (97)

57 (89)

Postnatal age at randomisation (days), n (%)

 Day 0 (day of birth)

2 (3)

5 (8)

 Day 1

14 (21)

19 (30)

 Day 2

30 (44)

18 (28)

 Day 3

22 (32)

22 (34)

Infant ventilated at randomisation (one or both if multiple), n (%)

23 (34)

24 (38)

Infant Apgar score at 5 minf, n (%)

 Median [IQR]

8 [7 to 10]

9 [7 to 10]

 <5

4 (6)

1 (2)

 Missing

2

4

Primiparous, n (%)

37 (60)

37 (60)

 Missing

6

2

Multipara only, N

25

25

 Previous breastmilk feeding experience, n/N (%)

23 (96)

21 (84)

  Missing

1

0

 Length of previous breastmilk feeding experience (weeks), median [IQR]

52 [17 to 79]

32 [10 to 52]

Length of previous breastmilk feeding experience, n (%)

 <1 week

0 (0)

0 (0)

 1 week to <6 weeks

3 (13)

2 (10)

 6 weeks to <6 months

5 (22)

8 (38)

 6 months to <12 months

4 (17)

5 (24)

 ≥12 months

11 (48)

6 (29)

 Missing

2

4

  1. Missing observations are excluded from percentage denominators.
  2. SD standard deviation, IQR interquartile range.
  3. aStratification factor.
  4. bCategories defined by the United Kingdom Office of National Statistics.
  5. cEngland postcodes are assigned an Index of Multiple Deprivation quintile according to multiple factors associated with area-level deprivation.
  6. dDefined as “your baby would be drinking only your breastmilk and no infant formula”.
  7. eSix item version transformed to an equivalent score to 20 item original. Score range is 20 to 80, higher score indicates more anxiety.
  8. fLower score if two babies.
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