WIP 73 - Timing of EI Enrollment and its effects on Neurodevelopment Outcomes

Publication Number: WIP 73.7540

Kimberly Dang, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Silver Spring, MD, United States; Alla Kushnir, The Children's Regional Hospital at Cooper, Camden, NJ, United States; Krystal Hunter, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ, United States; Vishwanath Bhat, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ, United States; Vineet Bhandari, The Children's Regional Hospital at Cooper, Camden, NJ, United States; Diana Yanni, The Children's Regional Hospital at Cooper, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Background: Preterm infants have higher risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, including cognitive, language, motor, and behavioral impairments. There is mounting evidence that statewide Early Intervention (EI) programs can improve developmental outcomes of these infants. However, low rates of EI access and enrollment persist, suggesting that attrition may be associated with racial and socioeconomic disparities. The benefits of EI and quality improvement initiatives have been described, but quantifying the impact of the timing of EI enrollment for preterm infants remains a challenge. It is important to understand how the effectiveness of EI programs differs based on the timing of enrollment at different ages and developmental stages of a child's life.

Objective: This study aimed to assess EI service utilization among infants born less than 35 weeks, to determine if earlier enrollment in EI program improves neurodevelopment outcomes and to evaluate factors associated with timing of EI services.

Design/Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of infants born < 35 weeks in a tertiary urban hospital between January 2021 to December 2022 who were scheduled for follow-up visits at our high-risk infant clinic. Maternal and infant demographic data as well as information on neonatal morbidities, social factors, the rates of attendance to the clinic, timing of EI referrals and utilization of EI services, and neurodevelopmental outcomes were collected. Neurodevelopmental outcomes based on Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-IV scores will be compared between infants who receive EI services before 6 months to those who start the program after 6 months. Factors associated with timing of EI will be evaluated by univariate and multifactorial regression analyses. P value of < 0.05 will be used for statistical significance. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board.