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Parent-Integrated Interventions to Improve Language Development in Children Born Very Preterm

Anne Synnes1,2,3, Thuy Mai Luu4, Jehier Afifi5,6

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.

Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 28, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Evidence-based Practice to Improve Quality (EPIQ) is a feasible method to enhance language development in very preterm children. This quality improvement technique successfully supported language interventions in Canadian neonatal follow-up programs.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Developmental pediatrics
  • Quality improvement science

Background:

  • Neurodevelopmental challenges are common in very preterm infants and require improved interventions.
  • Current quality improvement methods need scientific evidence integration for better outcomes.
  • Targeting language abilities is crucial for the development of very preterm populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the feasibility of Evidence-based Practice to Improve Quality (EPIQ) for enhancing language abilities in very preterm children.
  • To assess the implementation of EPIQ across 10 Canadian neonatal follow-up programs.
  • To evaluate the success rate of intervention cycles in meeting targeted aims.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic reviews were conducted and performed.
  • An online quality improvement educational tool was developed.
  • Multidisciplinary teams, including parents, were trained for local implementation and auditing of at least four intervention cycles.
  • Virtual support was provided to participating sites.

Main Results:

  • Eight out of ten sites successfully implemented at least four intervention cycles.
  • Of the 48 completed cycles, 85% met their targeted aims.
  • Parent involvement, dedicated champions, and institutional support were key facilitators, despite COVID-19 challenges.

Conclusions:

  • Evidence-based Practice to Improve Quality (EPIQ) is a feasible methodology for implementing family-integrated, evidence-informed language interventions in neonatal follow-up programs.
  • The study demonstrated successful application of EPIQ in supporting language development.
  • Further research is needed to assess long-term benefits for patients, families, and service sustainability.

Keywords:
family integrated careparent perspectivespatient-oriented researchprematurityquality improvement

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