European Standards of Care for Newborn Health-A project protocol

Area of Science:

• Neonatology
• Pediatric Healthcare
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Preterm infants represent the largest group of children receiving hospital care in Europe, with increasing numbers.
• Significant regional variations exist in care practices for preterm and critically ill infants across Europe.
• There is a lack of pan-European standards for neonatal care, impacting equitable treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish agreed-upon, high-quality standards for perinatal and neonatal care across Europe.
• To ensure fairer and more equitable care for vulnerable preterm infants and their families.
• To improve long-term health outcomes and enhance the quality of life for affected families.

Main Methods:

• A transdisciplinary collaboration project initiated by the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI).
• Involved over 220 experts, including healthcare professionals, patient representatives, and stakeholders.
• Development of a broad reference guidance in neonatology and associated fields.

Main Results:

• Ninety-six standards were developed and endorsed, covering 11 overarching topic areas.
• A comprehensive reference framework for high-quality neonatal care was created.
• The framework is designed to be a basis for national standard development.

Conclusions:

• The developed framework provides a foundation for creating binding national standards for high-quality care.
• A robust translation and implementation strategy is planned to improve health outcomes.
• The initiative aims to enhance care for preterm infants throughout Europe.