Video transcript – Study finds premature babies healthier when cared for by parents during hospital stay

[ Press Release 2013-02 ]

Dr. Shoo Lee and his team in the neonatal intensive care unit have found possible solutions through an evidence-based approach known as EPIQ

The idea behind EPIQ is to make use of existing knowledge to improve our outcomes.

For example, research had already shown that premature babies thrive when they are held and nurtured by their parents.

With that in mind, researchers wanted to see if parents could play a bigger role in the care of their babies.

We established a program called family-integrated care, where the families are part of the care team. They provide all the care for the baby with the exception of IV medication and procedures. The nurses' role is to teach the mothers, not to care for the babies directly.

In a pilot trial, family-integrated care showed very promising results.

We found a huge improvement in outcomes. There was a 25% improvement in weight gain. Infection rates fell from 11% to zero. Medication errors fell from 10% to zero. The babies were able to go home 10% faster, and there was an increase in satisfaction among the parents involved in this program.

The researchers will now be testing family-integrated care in randomized controlled trial in 16 hospitals.

This trial has the potential to dramatically change the way care is delivered for premature babies.

The lessons we are learning from the collaborative care, the benefits we can gain from learning from each other are huge. And these lessons can be applied in other health care areas in this country and elsewhere, so that EPIQ potentially can be a way by which we can improve care throughout the health care system.