Effect of Developmental Care on Very Low Birth Weight Infants: a Stepped-wedge Cluster Randomised Trial

Developmental care in the NICU focuses on creating a nurturing environment that supports the physical, emotional, and developmental needs of premature infants. This approach includes strategies like minimizing unnecessary noise and light, ensuring appropriate positioning and handling of infants, promoting skin-to-skin contact, and facilitating parental involvement in care.

The clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of developmental care in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. The primary objectives are to determine whether developmental care can (1) reduce the length of hospital stay and (2) enhance the opportunity for family-centered care in these infants. The study employs a 36-month stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial design, involving 40 Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs).

In this trial, all NICUs will eventually receive the intervention, but the order in which they start implementing the developmental care bundle will be randomized. This approach allows each NICU to serve as its own control, comparing outcomes before and after the intervention.

Data collection will occur at multiple time points before and after the implementation of the developmental care bundle, enabling a comprehensive analysis of its impact. By tailoring interventions to each NICU's specific context and needs, the study aims to generate robust evidence on the benefits of developmental care for VLBW infants and their families.