1
|
Edwards EM, Ehret DEY, Horbar JD. Potentially Better Practices for Follow Through in Neonatal Intensive Care Units. Pediatrics 2024:e2023065530. [PMID: 38872618 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2023-065530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To ascertain how NICU teams are undertaking action to follow through, involving teams, families, and communities as partners to address health-related social needs of infants and families. METHODS Nineteen potentially better practices (PBPs) for follow through first published in 2020 were reported and analyzed as a sum, overall, and by safety-net hospital status, hospital ownership, and NICU type, among US NICUs that finalized Vermont Oxford Network data collection in 2023. RESULTS One hundred percent of 758 eligible hospitals completed the annual membership survey, of which 57.5% reported screening for social risks. Almost all NICUs offered social work, lactation support, and translation services, but only 16% included a lawyer or paralegal on the team. Overall, 90.2% helped families offset financial costs while their infants were in the hospital, either with direct services or vouchers. At discharge, 94.0% of NICUs connected families with appropriate community organizations and services, 52.9% provided telemedicine after discharge, and 11.7% conducted home visits. The median number of PBPs at each hospital was 10 (25th percentile: 8, 75th percentile: 12). The number of PBPs reported differed by hospital control or ownership and level of NICU care. There were no differences by safety-net hospital status. CONCLUSIONS Despite concerns about time and resources, a diverse set of US NICUs reported adopting potentially better practices for follow through. However, the marked variation among NICUs and the lower rates at for-profit and lower-level NICUs suggest there is substantial opportunity for improvement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erika M Edwards
- Vermont Oxford Network, Burlington, Vermont
- Department of Pediatrics, Robert Larner, MD, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Danielle E Y Ehret
- Vermont Oxford Network, Burlington, Vermont
- Department of Pediatrics, Robert Larner, MD, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Jeffrey D Horbar
- Vermont Oxford Network, Burlington, Vermont
- Department of Pediatrics, Robert Larner, MD, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lechner BE, Kukora SK, Hawes K. Equity, inclusion and cultural humility: contemporizing the neonatal intensive care unit family-centered care model. J Perinatol 2024; 44:760-766. [PMID: 38532086 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-024-01949-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Existing NICU family centered care models lack the key elements of equity, inclusion and cultural humility. These models were conceived to support families during the stressful life event of an infant's NICU admission. Their development, however, occurred prior to recognition of the medical field's systematic shortcomings in providing equitable care and their impact on outcome disparities for marginalized communities; thus, they do not include cultural or equitable healthcare considerations. Given the significant neonatal care inequities for marginalized groups, incorporating the experience of these patients in a targeted manner into family centered care frameworks is of critical importance to ensure culturally humble and thus more just and equitable treatment. Here, we review past approaches to NICU family centered care and propose a novel, updated framework which integrates culturally humble care into the NICU family centered care framework.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice E Lechner
- Division of Neonatology, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
| | - Stephanie K Kukora
- Division of Neonatology and Bioethics Center, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Medical Humanities and Bioethics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Katheleen Hawes
- Division of Neonatology, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Brumbaugh JE, Bann CM, Bell EF, Travers CP, Vohr BR, McGowan EC, Harmon HM, Carlo WA, Hintz SR, Duncan AF. Social Determinants of Health and Redirection of Care for Infants Born Extremely Preterm. JAMA Pediatr 2024; 178:454-464. [PMID: 38466268 PMCID: PMC10928542 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.0125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Importance Redirection of care refers to withdrawal, withholding, or limiting escalation of treatment. Whether maternal social determinants of health are associated with redirection of care discussions merits understanding. Objective To examine associations between maternal social determinants of health and redirection of care discussions for infants born extremely preterm. Design, Setting, and Participants This is a retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort of infants born at less than 29 weeks' gestation between April 2011 and December 2020 at 19 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network centers in the US. Follow-up occurred between January 2013 and October 2023. Included infants received active treatment at birth and had mothers who identified as Black or White. Race was limited to Black and White based on service disparities between these groups and limited sample size for other races. Maternal social determinant of health exposures were education level (high school nongraduate or graduate), insurance type (public/none or private), race (Black or White), and ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was documented discussion about redirection of infant care. Secondary outcomes included subsequent redirection of care occurrence and, for those born at less than 27 weeks' gestation, death and neurodevelopmental impairment at 22 to 26 months' corrected age. Results Of the 15 629 infants (mean [SD] gestational age, 26 [2] weeks; 7961 [51%] male) from 13 643 mothers, 2324 (15%) had documented redirection of care discussions. In unadjusted comparisons, there was no significant difference in the percentage of infants with redirection of care discussions by race (Black, 1004/6793 [15%]; White, 1320/8836 [15%]) or ethnicity (Hispanic, 291/2105 [14%]; non-Hispanic, 2020/13 408 [15%]). However, after controlling for maternal and neonatal factors, infants whose mothers identified as Black or as Hispanic were less likely to have documented redirection of care discussions than infants whose mothers identified as White (Black vs White adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.84; 95% CI, 0.75-0.96) or as non-Hispanic (Hispanic vs non-Hispanic aOR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.60-0.87). Redirection of care discussion occurrence did not differ by maternal education level or insurance type. Conclusions and Relevance For infants born extremely preterm, redirection of care discussions occurred less often for Black and Hispanic infants than for White and non-Hispanic infants. It is important to explore the possible reasons underlying these differences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jane E. Brumbaugh
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Carla M. Bann
- Social, Statistical and Environmental Sciences Unit, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | | | - Colm P. Travers
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham
| | - Betty R. Vohr
- Department of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island and Warren Albert Medical School of Brown University, Providence
| | - Elisabeth C. McGowan
- Department of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island and Warren Albert Medical School of Brown University, Providence
| | | | - Waldemar A. Carlo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham
| | - Susan R. Hintz
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, California
| | - Andrea F. Duncan
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Horbar JD, Greenberg LT, Buzas JS, Ehret DEY, Soll RF, Edwards EM. Trends in Mortality and Morbidities for Infants Born 24 to 28 Weeks in the US: 1997-2021. Pediatrics 2024; 153:e2023064153. [PMID: 38053449 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2023-064153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mortality and morbidity for very preterm infants in the United States decreased for years. The current study describes recent changes to assess whether the pace of improvement has changed. METHODS Vermont Oxford Network members contributed data on infants born at 24 to 28 weeks' gestation from 1997 to 2021. We modeled mortality, late-onset sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, chronic lung disease, severe intraventricular hemorrhage, severe retinopathy of prematurity, and death or morbidity by year of birth using segmented relative risk regression, reporting risk-adjusted annual percentage changes with 95% confidence intervals overall and by gestational age week. RESULTS Analyses of data for 447 396 infants at 888 hospitals identified 3 time point segments for mortality, late onset sepsis, chronic lung disease, severe intraventricular hemorrhage, severe retinopathy of prematurity, and death or morbidity, and 4 for necrotizing enterocolitis. Mortality decreased from 2005 to 2021, but more slowly since 2012. Late-onset sepsis decreased from 1997 to 2021, but more slowly since 2012. Severe retinopathy of prematurity decreased from 2002 to 2021, but more slowly since 2011. Necrotizing enterocolitis, severe intraventricular hemorrhage, and death or morbidity were stable since 2015. Chronic lung disease has increased since 2012. Trends by gestational age generally mirror those for the overall cohort. CONCLUSIONS Improvements in mortality and morbidity have slowed, stalled, or reversed in recent years. We propose a 3-part strategy to regain the pace of improvement: research; quality improvement; and follow through, practicing social as well as technical medicine to improve the health and well-being of infants and families.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Horbar
- Vermont Oxford Network, Burlington, Vermont
- Department of Pediatrics, Robert Larner, Maryland College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Lucy T Greenberg
- Vermont Oxford Network, Burlington, Vermont
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Jeffrey S Buzas
- Vermont Oxford Network, Burlington, Vermont
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Danielle E Y Ehret
- Vermont Oxford Network, Burlington, Vermont
- Department of Pediatrics, Robert Larner, Maryland College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Roger F Soll
- Vermont Oxford Network, Burlington, Vermont
- Department of Pediatrics, Robert Larner, Maryland College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Erika M Edwards
- Vermont Oxford Network, Burlington, Vermont
- Department of Pediatrics, Robert Larner, Maryland College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Keck-Kester T, Hicks SD. Infant Saliva Microbiome Activity Modulates Nutritional Impacts on Neurodevelopment. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2111. [PMID: 37630671 PMCID: PMC10459261 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11082111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopment is influenced by complex interactions between environmental factors, including social determinants of health (SDOH), nutrition, and even the microbiome. This longitudinal cohort study of 142 infants tested the hypothesis that microbial activity modulates the effects of nutrition on neurodevelopment. Salivary microbiome activity was measured at 6 months using RNA sequencing. Infant nutrition was assessed longitudinally with the Infant Feeding Practices survey. The primary outcome was presence/absence of neurodevelopmental delay (NDD) at 18 months on the Survey of Wellbeing in Young Children. A logistic regression model employing two microbial factors, one nutritional factor, and two SDOH accounted for 33.3% of the variance between neurodevelopmental groups (p < 0.001, AIC = 77.7). NDD was associated with Hispanic ethnicity (OR 18.1, 2.36-139.3; p = 0.003), no fish consumption (OR 10.6, 2.0-54.1; p = 0.003), and increased Candidatus Gracilibacteria activity (OR 1.43, 1.00-2.07; p = 0.007). Home built after 1977 (OR 0.02, 0.001-0.53; p = 0.004) and Chlorobi activity (OR 0.76, 0.62-0.93, p = 0.001) were associated with reduced risk of NDD. Microbial alpha diversity modulated the effect of fish consumption on NDD (X2 = 5.7, p = 0.017). These data suggest the benefits of fish consumption for neurodevelopment may be mediated by microbial diversity. Confirmation in a larger, randomized trial is required.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Steven D. Hicks
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| |
Collapse
|