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Neonatal Neurobehavioral And Motor Behavior In Ultra Early Physical Therapy Intervention

Combining Neonatal Neurobehavioral (Brazelton) And Motor Behavior (Prechtl) In The Assessment And Ultra Early Physical Therapy Intervention Of Premature Infants

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Early Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05565287
Enrollment
80
Registered
2022-10-04
Start date
2021-09-24
Completion date
2025-12-30
Last updated
2025-06-17

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Neonatal Disease, Parenting, Premature Birth

Keywords

prematurity, subsystem organization, motor system, state system, general movements, spontaneous mobility, parental confidence, neonatal neurobehavior

Brief summary

Investigation of the combination of neonatal neurobehaviourism and motor behavior in the assessment and ultra-early physical therapy intervention of premature neonates and parental support.

Detailed description

Developments in neonatology and perinatal medicine in recent years have resulted in a remarkable development of the survival of premature infants. At the same time, several evaluation and intervention protocols have been developed, aiming at early diagnosis and intervention, but also and studies that are concluding and highlight the need for future well planed and in-depth research, mainly in areas related to early intervention. T. Brazeltons' (1973) Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale (NBAS) has been used in many studies of assessment and intervention in newborn-infant and their families and respectively H.R. Prechtls' (1979) Qualitative Assessment of General Movements (GMs) in assessment studies, as a valid and reliable non-invasive procedure. However, the combination of their basic principles and guidelines has not been developed and tested in the context of ultra-early physiotherapy intervention in premature infants. The evaluation and strengthening of ultra-early physiotherapy intervention by combining basic principles of neonatal neuro-behavior (based on Brazelton T.) and motor behavior (based on Prechtl H.F.R.), in the context of individualized and developmental supportive care of premature neonates and infants and enhancing parental self-confidence. The research is based upon on three different researches: a) the cross-cultural adaptation of Karitane Parental Confidence Scale (KPCS) questionnaire. The sample will be parents of infants up to one year, b) the effect of ultra-early intervention on parental confidence of preterm infant parents. An experimental randomized controlled trial which will be conducted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) until maternity hospital discharge. The sample will be premature infants and their parents and c) the effect of ultra-early intervention and parental confidence, on the development of premature infants up to the age of three months. An experimental randomized controlled trial which will be conducted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and upon their discharge from the maternity hospital up to the age of 3 months. The study sample will be premature infants and their parents.

Interventions

COMBINATION_PRODUCTultra early physiotherapy intervention

* NBAS / NBO and GMs based guidelines in explaining neonatal signs into the NICU (lasting 15-30 minutes) * NBAS / NBO and GMs based guidelines in explaining neonatal signs to parents, 1st neonatal assessment and intervention upon hospital discharge (lasting one hour) * NBAS / NBO and GMs based guidelines in explaining neonatal signs to parents, 1st neonatal assessment and intervention every 15 to 20 days until the 3rd month of life (corrected age).

Sponsors

University of Thessaly
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

prematurity (NICU)

Intervention model description

1. group: Intervention Parental advise based on the combination of neonatal neurobehaviourism and motor behaviour 2. group: Basic hospital guidelines

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
No minimum to 3 Months
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Gestational age under 37 weeks * Premature newborns hospitalised in the NICU for at least eight days * (for parents) be able to speak and read Greek or English

Exclusion criteria

* Newborns with congenital and chromosomal abnormalities. * Newborns with severe accompanying pathological problems and congenital infections. * (for parents) with known history of drug or alcohol abuse or serious psychiatric disorders

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
The neonatal behavioural assessment scale (NBAS)newborn - 2 month old (corrected age)Assesses neurobehavioral repertoire of the newborn
The New-born Behavioral Observations (NBO)Βirth through the 3rd month of lifelatest and inspired by the clinical uses of NBAS. Αn interactive relationship-building tool to strengthen the relationship between infants and parents beginning in the newborn period
The Qualitative Assessment of General Movements (GMsA)birth to 20 weeks (corrected age)non-invasive and non-disruptive assessment through observations of the quality of generalised movements to determine the integrity of the CNS of infants
• Karitane Parenting Confidence Scale (KPCS) (Crncec, R., et all., 2008, 2010)Birth to 12 monthsAssesses perceived parental confidence in newborn/infant care
• Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Pss: Nicu) (Miles, M. S., Funk, S. G., & Carlson, J., 1993)From Enrollment to the end of interventional 3 monthsParental Self Reported Questionnaire concerning their experiences in NICU

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Parental Stress Scale (PSS-18) (Berry, J., O., & Jones., W., H., 1995)From enrollment to the end of program at 3 monthsParental Self Reported Questionnaire concerning their parental experience

Countries

Greece

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026