Comprehensive Healthcare Model for Paediatric Patients Screened in the Retinopathy of Prematurity Program
Abstract:
Background: Prematurity is associated with a higher prevalence of visual and neurocognitive impairments not only in the neonatal period but also in childhood and adolescence.
Objective: To design a comprehensive health model for pediatric patients screened in the National Program for the Care of Retinopathy of Prematurity.
Methodological Design: A multicenter, multistage, mixed-method approach was conducted. In the first stage, the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the children screened between 2002 and 2018 were described. In the second stage, a longitudinal study was conducted in which 60 premature infants between 7 and 18 years of age were followed, 30 diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity and 30 who did not suffer from it. Ophthalmological and neurocognitive sequelae were evaluated and treated. In the third stage, a comprehensive healthcare model was designed for pediatric patients screened in the program.
Results: A high percentage of patients presented ophthalmological, neurocognitive, and general disorders. The proposed model adopts a holistic and multidisciplinary approach, with four interrelated components focused on the child/adolescent and their family. Each component, in turn, generates interventions/actions and tools for clinical follow-up, aimed at improving the quality of care.
Conclusions: The healthcare model was rated as highly adequate by the experts consulted.
