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Nishida T, Kusuda S, Mori R, Toyoshima K, Mitsuhashi H, Sasaki H, Yonemoto N, Kono Y, Uchiyama A, Fujimura M. Impact of comprehensive quality improvement program on outcomes in very-low-birth-weight infants: A cluster-randomized controlled trial in Japan. Early Hum Dev 2024; 190:105947. [PMID: 38295559 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2024.105947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Differences in outcomes among neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Japan have been noted, prompting the need for quality improvement. AIM To assess a comprehensive quality improvement program on outcomes in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants. STUDY DESIGN A cluster-randomized clinical trial. SUBJECTS Forty hospitals and VLBW infants born in 2012-2014 and admitted to those hospitals were study subjects. OUTCOME MEASURES The intervention group (IG) received a comprehensive quality improvement program involving clinical practice guidelines, educational outreach visits, workshops, opinion leader training, audits, and feedback. The control group (CG) was provided only with the guidelines. The primary outcome was survival without neurological impairment at three years of age. RESULTS IG consisted of 19 hospitals and 1735 infants, while CG included 21 hospitals and 1700 infants. There were no significant differences in gestational weeks, 29.1(26.9-31.3) vs. 29.1(26.7-31.1) or birth weights (g), 1054(789-1298) vs. 1084(810-1309) between the two groups. Both groups showed survival rates without neurological impairment of 67.2 % (1166) and 66.9 % (1137), respectively, without a significant difference. There was no significant difference in mortalities at NICU discharge between the groups, with rates of 4.0 % (70) and 4.2 % (72) respectively. Several clinically relevant improvements were observed in IG, including reduced rates of sepsis, adrenal insufficiency, transfusion for anemia, and a shorter interval to achieve full enteral feeding. However, these did not lead to improvements in the primary outcome. CONCLUSION The comprehensive quality improvement program to Japanese NICUs did not result in a significant improvement in survival without neurological impairment in VLBW infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiko Nishida
- Department of Neonatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1 Kawadacho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Health Policy, National Center for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Ookura, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kusuda
- Department of Neonatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1 Kawadacho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, Kyorin University, 6-20-2 Shinkawa, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan; Neonatal Research Network of Japan, 3-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Rintaro Mori
- Department of Health Policy, National Center for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Ookura, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan; Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshidakonoecho, Sakyoku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Katsuaki Toyoshima
- Department of Neonatology, Kanagawa Children's Hospital, 2-138-4 Mutsugawa, Minami, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hideko Mitsuhashi
- Department of Neonatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1 Kawadacho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Health Policy, National Center for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Ookura, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hatoko Sasaki
- Department of Neonatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1 Kawadacho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Health Policy, National Center for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Ookura, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan; Shizuoka Graduate University of Public Health, 4-27-2 Kita Ando, Aoi, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Naohiro Yonemoto
- Department of Public Health, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yumi Kono
- Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Atsushi Uchiyama
- Department of Neonatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1 Kawadacho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, Tokai University, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Masanori Fujimura
- Department of Neonatology, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, 840 Murodocho, Izumi, Osaka, Japan
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