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The Edmonton Randomised Controlled Trial of NIDCAP - Based Developmental Care

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Infant, Premature
Registration Number
NCT00552383
Lead Sponsor
University of Alberta
Brief Summary

NIDCAP based developmental care is a method of looking after preterm infants that is guided by the infant's behavioural cues, and that actively involves parents in the care of their infant. There is limited evidence that outcomes for infants are improved if they receive NIDCAP based care. This study evaluates the effects of introducing NIDCAP based care to a level III neonatal intensive care unit, in the post - surfactant era, and also evaluates its effects on developmental outcomes at age 18 months.

Detailed Description

This RCT differs from previous trials in that it is conducted in the post - surfactant era \[an intervention that has greatly changed clinical neonatology\]. The number of infants required to demonstrate a clinically relevant outcome \[Length of Hospital Stay\] has been calculated a priori. The infants will be tracked for outcome data after transfer to peripheral nurseries \[a reality in today's healthcare environment\], allowing generalisability of results to other high risk, referral Neonatal Intensive Care units. Neurodevelopmental outcomes will be evaluated at 18 months; \[these data are sparse from previous studies\]. This RCT will therefore demonstrate whether NIDCAP based care is truly an effective intervention for the very low birth weight infant.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
120
Inclusion Criteria
  • birth weight between 500g to <1250g
  • gestational age </= 32 weeks
  • birth weight between 3rd to 97th percentile for gestational age
  • survival to >48 hr age
  • at least one parent speaks English or a language spoken by study investigator
  • twins eligible if BOTH meet all criteria
Exclusion Criteria
  • chromosomal abnormalities
  • major congenital anomalies
  • maternal drug and /or alcohol use in pregnancy
  • congenital infection
  • decision made to withdraw intensive care treatments, or discussion about this already initiated with family

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Length of hospital staySept 1999 to Dec 2002
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Days of ventilationSept 1999 to Dec 2002
Incidence of Chronic Lung Disease of PrematuritySept 1999 to Dec 2002
Neurodevelopmental Disability at corrected age 18 monthsApril 2001 to Dec 2004
incidence of sepsisSept 1999 - Dec 2002
Use of sedative medicationsept 1999 - dec 2002
Maternal StressSept 1999 - Dec 2002
incidence of Apnea of Prematuritysept 1999 - dec 2002
time to regain birthweightsept 1999 - dec 2002
time to attain full enteral feedssept 1999 - dec 2002
incidence of intracranial hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalaciasept 1999 - dec 2002

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Royal Alexandra Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

🇨🇦

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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