Impact of Quality Improvement Outreach Education on the Incidence of Acute Brain Injury in Transported Neonates Born Premature

Objective To evaluate impact of a quality improvement (QI) outreach education on incidence of acute brain injury in transported premature neonates. Study design Neonates born at <33 weeks gestation outside the tertiary center were included. The QI intervention was a combination of neuroprotection care bundle, in-person visits, and communication system improvement. Descriptive and regression (adjusting for Gestational Age, Birth Weight, Gender, and antenatal steroids, Mode of delivery, Apgars at 5 minutes, Prophylactic indomethacin, PDA, and Inotropes use) analyses were performed. The primary outcome was a composite of death and/or severe brain injury on cranial ultrasound using a validated classification. Results 181 neonates studied (93 before and 88 after). The rate and adjusted odds of death and/or severe brain injury reduced significantly post intervention (30% vs 15%) and (AOR 0.36, 95%CI, 0.15–0.85, P = 0.02) respectively. Conclusion Implementation of outreach education targeting neuroprotection can reduce acute brain injury in transported premature neonates.