Follow-up by questionnaire?
Recently, proposals have been made to include larger numbers of infants and reduce the cost of obtaining follow-up information pertaining to modern perinatal management. These proposals have been made in response to requests from purchasers and providers of health care as well as the obstetricians and neonatologists actively engaged in delivery of the service. These initiatives are welcome, but care must be taken to provide objective, meaningful data. In addition to standardised recording including by questionnaire, standardised data collection designed to identify relevant impairments must be the primary objective; the nature and extent of disability at particular ages can then be assigned but it is misleading to regard disability as the principle outcome measure.
Stewart
A L
AL
Department of Paediatrics, University College London Medical School, Rayne Institute, UK.
Roth
S C
SC
Kirkbride
V
V
D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000191:economics