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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

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Transition to neonatal follow-up programs: is attendance a problem?

Marilyn Ballantyne1, Bonnie Stevens, Astrid Guttmann

  • 1Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street W., Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. mballan@mcmaster.ca

The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing
|February 2, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Many high-risk infants miss crucial neonatal follow-up (NFU) appointments after leaving the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Improving attendance requires early identification of at-risk mothers and addressing barriers to care.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Developmental pediatrics
  • Public health

Background:

  • Neonatal follow-up (NFU) programs are vital for infants at high risk for developmental issues post-neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) discharge.
  • Understanding attendance patterns and withdrawal points is crucial for optimizing these essential services.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess current patterns of NFU program attendance.
  • To identify critical time points of mother and infant withdrawal from NFU programs within the first year of life.

Main Methods:

  • Study conducted in 3 Canadian tertiary NICUs referring to 2 regional NFU programs.
  • 357 mothers and 400 infants consecutively recruited during NICU hospitalization.
  • Attendance tracked via existing NFU databases at 3 scheduled appointments.

Main Results:

  • NFU attendance decreased from 84% at the first appointment to 74% by 12 months.
  • Highest withdrawal rates occurred after NICU discharge, followed by the first NFU appointment.
  • Nonattendance limits access to services and underreports developmental outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Early screening of mothers in the NICU is recommended to identify those at risk of non-attendance.
  • Implementing strategies to overcome barriers and improve transition and access to NFU programs is essential.

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