Spanish survey on follow-up programmes for children born very preterm

Aim: To describe variations in practice between follow-up programmes for very preterm children born at less than 32 weeks' gestation or with very low birth weight of less than 1,500 g. Methods: A survey on follow-up practices was electronically distributed to level II and III units among hospit...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Pallás-Alonso, Carmen|||0000-0001-9710-8162, Loureiro, Begoña|||0000-0001-6065-1364, De la Cruz Bértolo, Javier, García González, Pilar, Ginovart, Gemma|||0000-0001-8072-1681, Jiménez, Ana, Martín, Yolanda, Soriano, Javier, Torres, María José, Vento Torres, Máximo|||0000-0003-0061-4742
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2019
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:286270
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/286270
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1111/apa.14647
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Follow-up
High-risk children
Quality of care
Very low birth weight
Very preterm
Descripción
Sumario:Aim: To describe variations in practice between follow-up programmes for very preterm children born at less than 32 weeks' gestation or with very low birth weight of less than 1,500 g. Methods: A survey on follow-up practices was electronically distributed to level II and III units among hospitals of the Spanish National Health Service in 2016. The survey included 70 questions covering issues such as follow-up organisation and resources, routine assessments, relationships with other services and families, information management and training. Results: The response rate was 91.5% (141/154). Among respondents, 70.9% (100/141) reported that they do provide follow-up and 42% do so up to six years of age. Routine neurological and ophthalmological follow-up is not performed in 60% and 37% of hospitals, respectively, and a second hearing assessment is not given in 62%. Just 38% of units have psychologist. In 41% of hospitals, training in follow-up skills is not included in Paediatric Residency training programme. Conclusion: Although Spain has a nationwide health system that provides universal health coverage, we found that follow-up care for children born very preterm/very low birth weight is not equitable. Nearly half of paediatric residents receive no training in follow-up for this high-risk population.