Optimising very preterm infant outcomes: an evidence based screening and surveillance method

Studies in the United Kingdom have shown the feasibility of collecting a standardised core of data with specific criteria for defining disability in children born very preterm at two years of age from questionnaires completed by parents and health care clinicians. Evaluation of outcomes for children born very preterm by questionnaires are very important for the purpose of providing global and epidemiologic information on outcomes, and for planning of services. However, most of the available questionnaires are a subjective assessment of the child and liable to bias. We are proposing the use of questionnaires to collect late morbidity and disability data from the primary health sector in children born very preterm with the support of a structured preterm clinical pathway for screening and surveillance. The pathway has been designed to ensure standardised data collection providing a more objective and valid assessment of late morbidity and disability. It is not designed to replace specialist assessment of a child.