Research Article

Advancing evidence in preterm neonatal medicine

  1. Pamela K. Donahue1,2,*,
  2. Karen A. Robinson3,4

Article first published online: 22 DEC 2011

DOI: 10.1002/ddrr.125

Issue

Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews

Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews

Volume 16, Issue 4, pages 289–295, 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Donahue, P. K. and Robinson, K. A. (2010), Advancing evidence in preterm neonatal medicine. Dev Disabil Res Revs, 16: 289–295. doi: 10.1002/ddrr.125

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

  2. 2

    Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland

  3. 3

    Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

  4. 4

    Division of Health Sciences Informatics, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

*Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Nelson 2-133, Baltimore, MD 21287

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 22 DEC 2011
  2. Article first published online: 22 DEC 2011
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 23 JUN 2011
  4. Manuscript Received: 27 MAY 2011

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Keywords:

  • infant;
  • premature;
  • intensive care, neonatal;
  • evidence based medicine;
  • randomized controlled trials (as topic)

Abstract

Few interventions and treatments for premature infants have undergone the rigors of a randomized controlled trial (RCT), the cornerstone of evidence-based healthcare. Multiple barriers in establishing a quality evidence base for the care of preterm infants are examined including the systematic exclusion of children from drug trials, vulnerability of the infants, burden to families of the consent process for RCTs, and the lack of standard measurements and subgroup definitions that impede systematic reviews. Delays in getting evidence into practice are highlighted, including clinician knowledge of existing evidence, attitudes about the evidence, and behavior. Landmark trials are used as examples. Finally, a call for the research community to develop guidance on good clinical research practice for preterm infants is offered that will allow the synthesis of the totality of evidence. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Disabil Res Rev 2010;16:289–295.

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