Description
Worldwide the number of premature infants grows depending on various factors. The number of premature infants released from Perinatal Centres is steadily increasing. This highly vulnerable population is burdened with relatively severe long-term morbidity and a number of dysfunctions which can manifest themselves in a number of areas. The objective of the project is the earliest possible diagnosis of deviations in the development and an early therapeutic intervention in the areas such as: 1. Psychology- Psychiatry - screening for early neurodevelopment deviations and cognitive rehabilitation, 2. Auxology - creating growth charts to monitor anthropometric data of premature infants, 3. Pneumology – tracking the dynamics of lung function tests up to the early school-age, 4. Rehabilitation - new diagnostic and therapeutic methods. The project will contribute to improving the quality of diagnostic and therapeutic care for premature infants across the entire Czech Republic. There is no donor project partner.
Summary of project results
The aim of the project was to set-up screening mechanisms for earliest possible detection of deviations in mental development or motor performance of premature infants so that appropriate and timely therapeutic intervention (rehabilitation, psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy) is provided. The ultimate aim is to achieve better health for those children, their socialisation and inclusion. The project worked with children aged 5 – 8 years as it was proven that the majority of deviations in somatic or psycho-social development can be manifested only in pre-school and early school age. Four programmes of primary prevention were created by expert team of General University Hospital (GUH) in Prague (indication criteria for physiotherapy and pharmacotherapy based on lung function tests, methodology of standard psychologic examination and screening of executive function in premature infants, screening tests of kinesiology and sensory integration, creation of new percentile graphs based on anthropogenic data of present population) accompanied by four programmes of secondary prevention (methodology of cognitive rehabilitation, targeted rehabilitation of breathing discomfort, criteria for indication for endocrinology examination and examination of growth potential, combined therapeutic and diagnostic tool for improvement of sensory functions and fine motor skills). 120 children were screened during the project implementation with application of aforementioned new diagnostic methods and charts. The screenings are continuing and in case any deviation is proven, targeted rehabilitation and specialised treatment is being provided within the Centre for complex care of premature infants. Within the project relevant specialists from GUH attended reputable internationally recognised trainings and devices, aids and screening sets for testing was purchased.
Summary of bilateral results