The Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program is not supported by meta-analyses of the data.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically review the effectiveness of the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) as compared with conventional care to improve long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes or short-term medical and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm and/or low birth weight infants.


METHODS
With the use of standard systematic review methodology, all randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective cohort studies evaluating in-hospital developmental care based on the framework of NIDCAP in preterm and/or low birth weight infants were identified. The quality of the RCTs was assessed. Meta-analyses were performed by using relative risk and risk difference for dichotomous data and weighted mean difference for continuous data with 95% confidence intervals.


RESULTS
Five RCTs (n = 136) and 3 phase-lag cohort studies (n = 185) met inclusion criteria. School-age neurodevelopmental outcomes after NIDCAP have not been reported. Meta-analyses of medical outcomes showed a statistically significant benefit of NIDCAP on requirement for supplemental oxygen. Neurodevelopmental outcome was improved at 9 or 12 months but not at 2 years.


CONCLUSIONS
There is insufficient evidence to support the NIDCAP to improve medical and neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants.
Jacobs
Susan E
SE
Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, the Hospital for Sick Children and Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Sokol
Jennifer
J
Ohlsson
Arne
A
D001835:Body Weight; D002657:Child Development; D003071:Cognition; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000628:therapy; D009359:Neonatology / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012121:Respiration, Artificial