Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 28, 2025
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Outpatient healthcare access and utilization for neonatal abstinence syndrome children: A systematic review
Adam Van Horn1, Whitney Powell2, Ashley Wicker2
1Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, KY, USA.
Insights
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) infants face challenges accessing postnatal care, exhibiting lower adherence and higher mortality risks. Outpatient weaning programs show promise but require intensive resources for broader implementation.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Health
- Pediatric Healthcare Access
- Systematic Review Methodology
Background:
- Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a growing concern, impacting infant health and healthcare needs post-discharge.
- Understanding healthcare utilization patterns and access barriers for NAS infants is critical for improving outcomes.
- Existing literature on postnatal care for NAS children requires systematic synthesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and assess literature on postnatal healthcare utilization in Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) children.
- To identify barriers and facilitators influencing healthcare access and adherence for infants with NAS.
- To synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of interventions for improving healthcare engagement in this population.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive systematic search was conducted across major databases (PubMed, Cochrane, PsychINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science).
- Peer-reviewed articles focusing on healthcare utilization and access for NAS children were included.
- Data extraction and quality assessment were performed by three independent investigators using standardized tools.
Main Results:
- Fourteen articles met the inclusion criteria, highlighting significant challenges for NAS infants.
- NAS infants demonstrate poorer outpatient appointment adherence and higher rates of being lost to follow-up.
- These infants face increased risks of emergency room visits, hospital readmissions, and early mortality.
Conclusions:
- NAS infants experience decreased access to and utilization of outpatient healthcare post-discharge.
- Intensive, multidisciplinary outpatient weaning programs facilitate healthcare engagement and improve outcomes.
- These programs represent a potential model for enhancing care coordination and health for NAS children, though resource-intensive.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to systematically assess the literature regarding postnatal healthcare utilization and barriers/facilitators of healthcare in neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) children.
Methods:
A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PsychINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Web of Science to identify peer-reviewed research. Eligible studies were peer-reviewed articles reporting on broad aspects of primary and specialty healthcare utilization and access in NAS children. Three investigators independently reviewed all articles and extracted data. Study bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Assessment Scale and the National Institute of Health Study Quality Assessment Tool.
Results:
This review identified 14 articles that met criteria. NAS children have poorer outpatient appointment adherence and have a higher rate of being lost to follow-up. These children have overall poorer health indicated by a significantly higher risk of ER visits, hospital readmission, and early childhood mortality compared with non-NAS infants. Intensive multidisciplinary support provided through outpatient weaning programs facilitates healthcare utilization and could serve as a model that could be applied to other healthcare fields to improve the health among this population.
Conclusions:
This review investigated the difficulties in accessing outpatient care as well as the utilization of such care for NAS infants. NAS infants tend to have decreased access to and utilization of outpatient healthcare following hospital birth discharge. Outpatient weaning programs have proven to be effective; however, these programs require intensive resources and care coordination that has yet to be implemented into other healthcare areas for NAS children.
More Related Videos
05:13Preclinical Model of Prenatal Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure to Assess Its Impact on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
Published on: February 28, 2025
06:15Protocol and Guidelines for Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Diagnosing Neonatal Pulmonary Diseases Based on International Expert Consensus
Published on: March 6, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:02Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...
01:23Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla. Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by...