Outcomes of developmental care in an Australian neonatal intensive care nursery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the outcomes of implementation of a developmental care model in an Australian tertiary NICU.


METHODS
A retrospective chart audit was used to determine the differences between predevelopmental and developmental care outcomes for infants, parents, the unit, and nursing.


METHODS
Two subsets of infants were selected for comparison: one of infants receiving predevelopmental care (n = 42) and another of infants receiving developmental care (n = 42).


RESULTS
Infants receiving developmental care required less time on total parenteral nutrition, required less exogenous surfactant, and had less documented feeding intolerance. Changes were observed in ambience and in the use of space for providing parent-infant care. Also observed was the individualized expertise of nursing staff and of parents.
Prentice
Michele
M
Newborn Care Centre, Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney, NSW, Australia. prenticem@sesahs.nsw.gov.au
Stainton
Colleen
C
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D009517:New South Wales; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009737:Nursing Records; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires