Individualized developmental care for very low-birth-weight infants: a critical review.
Developmental care has been widely accepted and implemented in neonatal intensive care units across the country. Its proponents suggest that individualized developmental care is effective in reducing infant morbidity and length of hospital stay and improving neurodevelopmental outcomes. Although individual components of developmental care have been researched in more depth, few studies have examined a total developmental care protocol. This article critically examines the research base on individualized developmental care and discusses implications for clinical practice and future research.
Lotas
M J
MJ
Emory University, School of Nursing, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Walden
M
M
D002657:Child Development; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D016684:Prone Position; D013391:Sucking Behavior