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Supporting Play, Exploration, and Early Development Intervention (SPEEDI) for preterm infants: A feasibility
Francyne Finlayson1, Joy Olsen2, Stacey C Dusing3
1The University of Melbourne, 161 Barry St, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia; The Royal Women's Hospital, 20 Flemington Rd, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
Insights
The Supporting Play, Exploration and Early Development Intervention (SPEEDI) is a feasible early development program for very preterm infants. Preliminary findings indicate potential improvements in motor and language skills at four months corrected age.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal development
- Pediatric therapy
- Clinical feasibility studies
Background:
- The Supporting Play, Exploration and Early Development Intervention (SPEEDI) is an early intervention designed to enhance development in preterm infants.
- Previous pilot studies in the United States demonstrated the feasibility of the SPEEDI intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of implementing the SPEEDI intervention for very preterm infants within an Australian healthcare setting.
- To assess the preliminary impact of SPEEDI on infant developmental outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A prospective pilot feasibility randomized controlled trial was conducted.
- Infants born before 30 weeks gestation were recruited and received either SPEEDI or usual care.
- Feasibility was assessed through recruitment rates, retention, session completion, and therapy fidelity.
Main Results:
- The study achieved high recruitment and retention rates, with 17 out of 19 eligible infants participating.
- An average of 80% of SPEEDI therapy sessions were completed, with high fidelity reported by therapists and parents.
- Infants receiving SPEEDI showed higher scores on the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development - 3rd Edition (BSID-III) for gross motor and language skills at 4 months corrected age.
Conclusions:
- The SPEEDI intervention is feasible to deliver in an Australian context for very preterm infants.
- Preliminary data suggest that SPEEDI may positively influence motor and language development.
- These findings support the need for larger clinical trials to further investigate the efficacy of SPEEDI.
Background:
An early intervention that enhances early development in infants born preterm, called 'Supporting Play, Exploration and Early Development Intervention' (SPEEDI) has been shown to be feasible in Virginia, United States, in a pilot study. Infants receive 10 therapy sessions until 3 months' corrected age (CA) (Phase 1[5 hospital sessions] and Phase 2[5 home-based sessions]) in addition to usual care.
Aims:
To determine the feasibility of SPEEDI for very preterm infants in an Australian context.
Study Design:
Prospective pilot feasibility randomised controlled trial.
Subjects:
Infants born <30 weeks' gestation (GA), recruited between 34 and 38+6 weeks' postmenstrual age.
Outcome Measures:
Primary outcome was feasibility of SPEEDI, including recruitment rate, participant retention, sessions delivered, and therapy fidelity. Secondary outcome measures were developmental outcomes, including the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development - 3rd Edition (BSID-III) at 4 months' CA.
Results:
Of 19 eligible infants, 17 consented, SPEEDI n = 8 and usual care n = 9 (mean GA = 26.7 weeks [SD 1.4], male n = 10). All participants completed the study, with 80% of SPEEDI therapy sessions completed (90% Phase 1; 72% Phase 2). On average, therapists and parents used 78% and 77% of SPEEDI strategies in each session respectively. Infants in the SPEEDI group had higher scores on the BSID-III for gross motor, and expressive and receptive language subscales at 4 months' CA.
Conclusions:
SPEEDI is a feasible intervention to deliver, and preliminary results suggest that SPEEDI may lead to improved motor and language outcomes at 4 months' CA, with results supporting future larger clinical trials.
