Compliance With Best Practice Guidelines for Neurodevelopmental Supportive Care in South Africa: A Situational Analysis.

Neurodevelopmental supportive care provides preterm infants with evidence-based care to ensure the best possible neurological outcomes. The study aimed to determine the compliance of current nursing care practices with best practice guidelines by means of a situational analysis. The situational analysis was done in 2 cycles in the neonatal intensive care units (n = 25) of a private healthcare provider in South Africa.

Integrative literature review defining evidence-based neurodevelopmental supportive care of the preterm infant.

Neurodevelopmental supportive care (NDSC) is a well-researched topic and extensive evidence is available on its benefits in terms of the outcome for preterm infants. The programs, strategies, and individual elements of NDSC have been evaluated; however, knowledge and implementation of the developmental care approach is fragmented and the evidence base for elements of NDSC that make up the holistic model is not explicitly documented. The aim of this study was to identify and critically appraise the methodologic quality of relevant research studies and synthesize the current best available evidence of NDSC.