Impact of a qualitative assessment approach for neonatal abstinence syndrome management: experience of a European reference center.

Background: The management of infants at risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) remains challenging. In 2000 Maternidade Bissaya Barreto implemented a strategy based on the qualitative assessment of neonates and in 2018 the Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) approach, a tool based on similar concepts, was created. The aim is to assess the efficacy of a qualitative assessment of infants at risk, compare it with the ESC approach and report temporal trends of NAS in a European hospital.