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The Developmental Effects of an NBAS-based Early Intervention Program for Low Birth Weight Infants over the first year of life Shohei
Ogi, RPT, Kokichi Arisawa, MD, Tatsuya Takahashi, MD, We assessed the efficacy of an early intervention program (EIP), based on the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale, which was designed to promote the neonatal behavioral organization and developmental progress in infants born prematurely. The study subjects consisted of 48 very low birthweight infants (<1,500 gms) who received care in NICU of the Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki Japan. During 1993-1996, the experimental group (n=30) received the NBAS- (Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale) based intervention, combined with a therapeutic program (EIP), starting from 38 weeks of postmenstrual age and continuing to 44 weeks gestational age. The NBAS was used to demonstrate newborn behavioral competencies to the parents. The control group (historical control, n=18) received the standard medical-nursing care without EIP during the period from 1990-1992. Developmental outcome was assessed in both groups using the NBAS examination after EIP at 44 weeks of postmenstrual age, and the Bayley Scales were uses to assess their motor and mental development at 12 months corrected age. Multivariate analyses were performed to adjust for base line variables that might be associated with the developmental outcome: sex, appropriate or light for dates infant, birth weight, gestational age, Apgar score at 1 minute, duration of intubation, and NBAS cluster score before EIP. Results revealed that in the 44 week NBAS examination after EIP, the experimental group achieved significantly higher scores in orientation, motor performance, state range and state regulation clusters than the control group. Furthermore, the experimental group showed significantly higher Bayley Mental and Psychomotor Developmental Indices compared with the control group. These results suggested that the NBAS-based EIP was effective not only in promoting the neonatal neurobehavioral development of very low birthweight infants but also it had a direct influence on their mental and motor development up to the end of the first year of life.
(For references and further information please contact Mr. Shohei Ogi at ohgi@net2.nagasaki-u.ac.jp) |
