The International Network for Evaluating Outcomes of very low birth weight, very preterm neonates (iNeo): a protocol for collaborative comparisons of international health services for quality improvement in neonatal care.
BACKGROUND
The International Network for Evaluating Outcomes in Neonates (iNeo) is a collaboration of population-based national neonatal networks including Australia and New Zealand, Canada, Israel, Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK. The aim of iNeo is to provide a platform for comparative evaluation of outcomes of very preterm and very low birth weight neonates at the national, site, and individual level to generate evidence for improvement of outcomes in these infants.


METHODS
Individual-level data from each iNeo network will be used for comparative analysis of neonatal outcomes between networks. Variations in outcomes will be identified and disseminated to generate hypotheses regarding factors impacting outcome variation. Detailed information on physical and environmental factors, human and resource factors, and processes of care will be collected from network sites, and tested for association with neonatal outcomes. Subsequently, changes in identified practices that may influence the variations in outcomes will be implemented and evaluated using quality improvement methods.


CONCLUSIONS
The evidence obtained using the iNeo platform will enable clinical teams from member networks to identify, implement, and evaluate practice and service provision changes aimed at improving the care and outcomes of very low birth weight and very preterm infants within their respective countries. The knowledge generated will be available worldwide with a likely global impact.
Canadian Neonatal Network, Maternal-Infant Care Research Centre, Mount Sinai Hospital, 700 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X6, Canada. pshah@mtsinai.on.ca.
Prakesh S
PS
Shah
Shoo K
SK
Lee
Kei
K
Lui
Gunnar
G
Sjörs
Rintaro
R
Mori
Brian
B
Reichman
Stellan
S
Håkansson
Laura San
LS
Feliciano
Neena
N
Modi
Mark
M
Adams
Brian
B
Darlow
Masanori
M
Fujimura
Satoshi
S
Kusuda
Ross
R
Haslam
Lucia
L
Mirea
D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D002657:Child Development; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000453:epidemiology; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular / Q000453:epidemiology; D009359:Neonatology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000453:epidemiology