Abstract
Introduction: The developmental (DC) and family centered care is a framework for providing care that enhances the neurodevelopment of the infant. Over the past years Spanish neonatal units have been working towards introducing this type of care.
Objective: Evaluation of DC in Spanish neonatal units through consideration of some aspects of the care provided to very low birth weight infants and their families.
Methods: The study centers on Spanish hospitals caring for children under 1500g. In a telephone questionnaire, we performed a transversal study by asking 25 questions releated to DC.
Results: Of the 100 hospitals taking care of children under 1500g, 83 of them, representative of all the regions, responded to the questionnaire. Of these, 31% had noise pollution controls, 72% controlled light intensity, 75% bound the infants and 29% used sacarose as an analgesic, 10% allowed unrestricted parental visits. In 22% Kangaroo care is openly used. 63% of the centers admitted difficulties with regards to introducing changes in the DC. There are not differences in the implementation of the DC between big and small hospitals.
Conclusions: In practically all centers some type of DC activity occurs although in certain areas such as unrestricted parental visits, the rate of implementation is low.
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Perapoch, J., Pallas, C., Lòpez, M. et al. 226 Evaluation of Developmental Centered Care in Spanish Neonatal Units. Pediatr Res 58, 393 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200508000-00255
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200508000-00255