Implementation of Best Practices for Early Diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy (CP) in Very Preterm Infants: a Stepped-wedge Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

Children born preterm have an increased risk for brain-based disabilities, including cerebral palsy (CP), with lower gestational age (GA) incurring higher vulnerability. The rate of CP in very preterm children born before 29 weeks' GA is 6.1%.The 2017 international recommendations for Early, accurate diagnosis and early intervention in CP provides an evidence-based approach for prompt referral to targeted services to optimize child outcomes. Early diagnosis and intervention during the optimal window of brain plasticity has the potential to improve developmental functioning. Best practice guidelines also exist on how to convey an early diagnosis of CP in a compassionate way, as poor communication can affect parental mental health. The Canadian Neonatal Follow-Up Network (CNFUN) has partnered with the parent-led Canadian Premature Babies Foundation (CPBF) and key stakeholders to adapt these clinical practice guidelines to the Canadian context (CPG-CP). These CPG-CP promote the use of the General Movement Assessment (GMA) and the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) for identification of early signs of CP. The CPG-CP also propose clinical care pathways and an approach for communicating findings. The overall goal of the CPG-CP is to improve clinicians' ability to accurately recognize the earliest signs of CP that warrant immediate actions (as opposed to a wait-and-see approach). Using a hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial design, the investigators will assess whether the implementation strategy is successful in increasing the uptake of the CPG-CP by CNFUN programs. Concurrently, the investigators will test the effectiveness of implementing the CPG-CP in detecting early signs of CP at a younger age in preterm infants born <29 weeks' GA. The investigators will secondarily compare whether using both the GMA and HINE is more performant than the HINE alone in identifying early signs of CP. Finally, the investigators will examine whether developmental functioning at 18-24 months corrected age (CA) improves after CPG-CP implementation.

This proposal aims to reduce the gap in care related to the early identification of CP in children born very preterm across Canada. Using a hybrid effectiveness-implementation study design, the investigators will implement the CPG-CP in the real-world setting of CNFUN sites, to improve clinicians' ability to detect the early signs of CP in very preterm infants. Early diagnosis enables the initiation of targeted interventions and engagement of support services. Harnessing neuroplasticity through early and specific therapy can improve children's overall development and functioning. The effectiveness of the CPG-CP on improving clinical outcomes relies on a successful implementation process that considers the interplay between inner (i.e., within neonatal follow-up programs), outer (e.g., local health care system), and individual patient and clinician characteristics.