Premium
Prioritising long‐term outcomes for preterm babies: A survey of consumers and clinicians
Author(s) -
Kuo Jex,
Petrie Keith J,
Alsweiler Jane M
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.16093
Subject(s) - medicine , likert scale , longevity , pediatrics , child health , gerontology , demography , developmental psychology , psychology , sociology
Aim To determine if consumers and clinicians believe intelligence or health outcomes are more important long‐term outcomes for babies born preterm. Methods Prospective, online survey of six outcomes ranked using a hierarchy ladder, Likert scale and a hypothetical scenario: education (complete secondary school); longevity (70 years of age or more); money (sufficient for rent and food); normal weight; good health and intelligence. Participants were clinicians taking care of preterm babies, parents of preterm babies, ex‐preterm adults and adult controls. Results The survey was completed by 145 participants (35 controls, 36 clinicians, 39 parents and 35 ex‐preterm adults). Health was the most frequently top‐ranked variable on the hierarchy ladder (health; 99/145 (68.3%), money; 17/145 (11.7%), longevity; 10/145 (6.9%), education; 8/145 (5.5%), normal weight; 6/145 (4.1%), intelligence; 5/145 (3.4%), P < 0.0001), with no statistical difference between the groups. On a 5‐point Likert scale, participants were most likely to agree that sufficient money, health and finishing secondary school were important for preterm babies to have a good life (mean (SD): money 4.43 (0.81); health 4.39 (0.72); education 4.37 (0.81); normal weight 4.10 (0.81); intelligence 4.03 (0.94); longevity 4.01 (1.07), P < 0.0001). In the scenario, the option of an ex‐preterm adult having a healthy life with low socio‐economic status (SES), was preferred over high SES with an unhealthy life (p < 0.0001). Conclusions Health was perceived as the most important long‐term outcome for preterm babies. Future research should prioritise good health outcomes for babies born preterm.