Evaluating Neonatal Intensive Care for Tiny Babies in the 2000s - is it still Effective, Efficient and Available? [ 2007 - 2008 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Prof Lex Doyle (Principal investigator) ,  Prof Peter Anderson

Brief description Most extremely tiny babies, those of birthweight less than 1000 g, need intensive care to survive. However some survivors have substantial problems with their long-term health. Since intensive care is costly we must be sure that it is money well spent. From the late 1970s until the late 1990s in the state of Victoria neonatal intensive care has been increasingly effective, with large increases in the long-term survival rate, from 25% in 1979-80, to 73% in 1997. Its efficiency has been relatively high and stable over time, comparing favorably with many other health care programmes, both intensive and non-intensive. It has been increasingly available, with fewer than 10% of ELBW infants born outside major hospitals with intensive care nurseries, and more tiny babies offered intensive care. We now need to know if these benefits have been maintained for tiny babies born in the 2000s. Hence we need to assess the long-term health of tiny babies born in Victoria in 2005.

Funding Amount $AUD 246,333.80

Funding Scheme NHMRC Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant