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NICU Utilization of Remote Voice Technology to Improve mateRnal Experience (NURTURE)

Key facts

Who runs it
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Where
Nashville, United StatesSee the site
Trial code
Status
Recruiting
People taking part
150 people, planned
Started
4 Feb 2026
Expected to end
Jan 2028
Type of study
Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets no study treatment, for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • VoiceLove mobile phone application
Record updated
17 June 2026

Who can take part

Age
18 years and older
Sex
Women only
Healthy volunteers
Can take part

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 6 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Infant:; Admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU); Not readmitted after discharge from the NICU; Expected to survive at least 2 weeks; Expected to be admitted to the NICU for at least 2 weeks; Singleton gestation
  • Mother:; Age ≥ 18 years old; English speaking; Mother is the biological mother of the infant admitted to the NICU; Postpartum day 4 or less
  • Partner (NOTE: Partner enrollment is not required); Mother agrees to partner's participation; Designated by mother as support person with infant access

Who cannot take part

  • Mother; No access to an Android or iOS smartphone; Unwilling to download the VoiceLove NICU app to their personal smartphone and unwilling to accept the terms and conditions of the VoiceLove app; No personal email address; Incarcerated at time of delivery or postpartum; Inability to obtain informed consent; Patient's clinician refuses enrollment of the patient ii. Patient is either mentally (acute psychosis) or physically (intubated or critically ill in the ICU) unable to provide informed consent f. Unable to approach the patient (staffing, patient unavailable) g. Mother is not the intended parent (plans adoption, is a surrogate, will not have custody of the infant)
  • Partner (NOTE: Partner enrollment is not required); Age < 18 years old; Not English speaking; Inability to obtain informed consent; No access to an Android or iOS smartphone that is different from the mother's smartphone; No access to an email address that is different from the mother's email address; Unwilling to download the VoiceLove NICU app to their personal smartphone and unwilling to accept the terms and conditions of the VoiceLove app
  • Infant; Re-admission to NICU

Where in United States

  • Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, United StatesContact: Makenna WoodsTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

The study's objective is to conduct a Phase II randomized controlled trial examining the preliminary efficacy of the VoiceLove app compared to usual care on maternal postpartum depression in mothers with infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Primary aim: Assess the effects of VoiceLove on maternal postpartum depression, measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The estimates from this study will be used for a future definitive Phase III trial. Secondary aim: Assess feasibility, acceptability, and patterns of communication and engagement among mothers, partners, and NICU clinicians during the NICU hospitalization, measured through app usage metrics, satisfaction surveys, and qualitative interviews. Additionally, we will evaluate effects of infant length of stay.

The 2 groups in the trial

  • Intervention ArmTreatment being tested

    Participants in this arm will be randomized to receive access to the VoiceLove app in addition to standard of care and surveys.

    Treatment: VoiceLove mobile phone application

  • Control ArmNo study treatment, for comparison

    Participants in this arm will be randomized to standard of care only and will not have access to the VoiceLove app. They will also complete surveys.

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
NICU Utilization of Remote Voice Technology to Improve mateRnal Experience (NURTURE): A Randomized Controlled Trial
Record updated
17 June 2026