226 Evaluation of Developmental Centered Care in Spanish Neonatal Units

Abstract

Top of pageAbstract Introduction: The developmental (DC) and family centered care is a framework for providing care that enhances the neurodevelopment of the infant. Over the past years Spanish neonatal units have been working towards introducing this type of care. Objective: Evaluation of DC in Spanish neonatal units through consideration of some aspects of the care provided to very low birth weight infants and their families. Methods: The study centers on Spanish hospitals caring for children under 1500g. In a telephone questionnaire, we performed a transversal study by asking 25 questions releated to DC. Results: Of the 100 hospitals taking care of children under 1500g, 83 of them, representative of all the regions, responded to the questionnaire. Of these, 31% had noise pollution controls, 72% controlled light intensity, 75% bound the infants and 29% used sacarose as an analgesic, 10% allowed unrestricted parental visits. In 22% Kangaroo care is openly used. 63% of the centers admitted difficulties with regards to introducing changes in the DC. There are not differences in the implementation of the DC between big and small hospitals. Conclusions: In practically all centers some type of DC activity occurs although in certain areas such as unrestricted parental visits, the rate of implementation is low.