Evaluating the effectiveness of neonatal intensive care. What can the literature tell us?
This article reviews the characteristics of 69 clinical research studies of the effectiveness of neonatal intensive care (NIC). Emphasis is on the availability of important information in the studies, and on their scientific quality. The analysis suggests that these studies cannot answer several of the most important questions about the usefulness of NIC, because of poor study design or implementation. Guidelines for assessing the usefulness of existing studies and suggestions for future research are provided.
Ozminkowski
R J
RJ
Program in Health Services Organization and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-2029.
Wortman
P M
PM
Roloff
D W
DW
D003422:Critical Care; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D012107:Research Design