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Is the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) effective for preterm infants with intrauterine growth restriction?

Journal of Perinatology volume 31, pages 130–136 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

This study investigates the effectiveness of the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) on neurobehavioral and electrophysiological functioning of preterm infants with severe intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Study Design:

Thirty IUGR infants, 28 to 33 weeks gestational age, randomized to standard care (control/C=18), or NIDCAP (experimental/E=12), were assessed at 2 weeks corrected age (2wCA) and 9 months corrected age (9mCA) in regard to health, anthropometrics, and neurobehavior, and additionally at 2wCA in regard to electrophysiology (EEG).

Result:

The two groups were comparable in health and anthropometrics at 2wCA and 9mCA. The E-group at 2wCA showed significantly better autonomic, motor, and self-regulation functioning, improved motility, intensity and response thresholds, and reduced EEG connectivity among several adjacent brain regions. At 9mCA, the E-group showed significantly better mental performance.

Conclusion:

This is the first study to show NIDCAP effectiveness for IUGR preterm infants.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Mr J Connolly, REEGT for expert EEG data acquisition; Ms M Cummings, RN, MSN, Nurse Manager and Ms Mazzawi, RN MSN, Assistant Nurse Manager, BWH NICU for their unflagging confidence in their staff; the nurses and neonatologists for their support of the study; and the families and infants for their participation and commitment. The study was supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant RO1HD3826, US Department of Education grants HO23C970032; R305T990294 and an Irving Harris Foundation grant to H. Als; as well as NIH grant P30HD18655 to S. Pomeroy. The study is registered as a clinical trial. The trial registration number is NCT00914108.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, USA

    H Als, G B McAnulty, C B Fischer, S Kosta & S C Butler

  2. Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, USA

    F H Duffy

  3. Harvard Medical School and the Division of Newborn Medicine Children's Hospital Boston, Department of Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    R B Parad & S A Ringer

  4. Department of Imaging Sciences University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA

    J G Blickman

  5. Department of Anesthesia, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, USA

    D Zurakowski

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  1. H Als
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  2. F H Duffy
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  3. G B McAnulty
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  4. C B Fischer
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  5. S Kosta
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  7. R B Parad
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  8. J G Blickman
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  9. D Zurakowski
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  10. S A Ringer
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Correspondence to H Als.

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Als, H., Duffy, F., McAnulty, G. et al. Is the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) effective for preterm infants with intrauterine growth restriction?. J Perinatol 31, 130–136 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2010.81

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