14 • 2024 • Developmental Observer A B S T R A C T — N I D C A P T R A I N E R S M E E T I N G 2 0 2 3 Mazlan M1, Qureshi N1, George B2, Dela Cruz A2, Motala R1, Tscherning C3 1 Allied Health, Sidra Medicine, Qatar, 2 Neonatology, Sidra Medicine, Qatar, 3 Neonatology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway Introduction Sidra Medicine is the only 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Qatar and was opened in 2018. Eastern and West- ern practices of neonatal care converge in this NICU. A multi- disciplinary team was formed to identify the challenges of the NICU and address areas where incremental changes would have a significant impact on neurodevelopmental care. Aim The aim is to improve and promote awareness and implemen- tation of neurodevelopmental care. Methods A plan-do-study-act cycle (PDSA) was used (Figure 1) by a core multidisciplinary team known as the Managing Infant Neurodevelopment (MIND). An initial survey was carried out in the NICU to get a baseline understanding of the overall knowledge and awareness of neurodevelopmental care. Based on the results, the team was divided into subgroups to address the individual issues identified. A key intervention was Family and Infant Neurodevelopmental Education (FINE 1) training for all NICU staff with a selected team (n=10) to continue on FINE 2 training. Weekly education sessions on various topics related to neurodevelopmental and family centered care were implemented to the wider multidisciplinary team followed by a follow-up survey aimed at understanding changes in awareness of neurodevelopmental care. Results In the initial survey, 89% of staff acknowledged the importance of neurodevelopmental care, but only 4.6% of staff had com- pleted any formal training. All staff were mandated to com- plete FINE 1 training during a four-month period (n= 250). In the follow-up survey, 93% of staff acknowledged the impor- tance of neurodevelopmental care, 64% could identify that the baby was stressed and needed a break and 73% could identify the baby’s strategies to self-regulate. Discussion/ Relevance to NIDCAP Implementing FINE training in the NICU improved the knowledge around developmental care and observation of the newborn. Response rates were low in the two surveys [68% re- sponse rate (n=179) versus a 30% response rate (n=49)]. It may be reflective of the high turnover encountered as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown. During the pandemic, there has also been an influx of quality improve- ment projects within the NICU. While having the commitment to change is encouraging, it can also be overwhelming and mentally exhausting to continually overcome challenges to facilitate positive change. Protecting dedicated time for the core group to be able to educate the wider team was challenging and this was addressed by a proposal from the core group to the leadership team emphasizing the importance of implementing neurodevelop- mental care. Weekly protected education time was granted and such training for the professional healthcare team and manag- ing resources is also a part of the NIDCAP philosophy. Implementation of the FINE program which focuses on an understanding of the interconnection of the autonomic, motor, and state subsystems and reading the subtle cues of the baby’s communication through their behavior and self-regulation Creating Awareness of the Impact of Neurodevelopmental Care in a Level 4 Multicultural Greenfield NICU: A Quality Improvement Project Implementing FINE DOI 10.14434/do.v17i1.37046 Figure 1: PDSA cycle 2024 • Developmental Observer • 15 A B S T R A C T — N I D C A P T R A I N E R S M E E T I N G 2 0 2 3 before, during, and after caregiving procedures will enable caregivers to maximize comfort during caregiving, alleviate pain and support infant’s organization, which are components of NIDCAP’s philosophy for infant care. Conclusion This quality improvement project has succeeded in creating awareness of the importance of neurodevelopmental care and its lasting impact, opening the door for targeted education ses- sions and further bedside learning. Each member of the mul- tidisciplinary NICU team has a responsibility to ensure they follow standards of practice and understand its implications. ISSN: 2689-2650 (online) All published items have a unique document identifier (DOI) The official publication of the NIDCAP Federation International published on-line three times a year. ©2024. The statements and opinions contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not necessarily of the NIDCAP Federation International. Articles from the Developmental Observer, duly acknowledged, may be reprinted with permission. Please contact us at: developmentalobserver@nidcap.org. Contributions We would like to thank all of our individual donors for their generous support of the NFI and its continuing work. Developmental Observer current and past issues from: https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/ Articles are welcome for peer review and may be submitted via the ScholarWorks site or sent directly to the Senior Editor. The submission guidelines are available on the ScholarWorks site. Developmental Observer OUR SPONSORS Dr. Brown’s Medical delivers valuable feeding solutions that help provide the best possible outcomes for all babies. Sponsor of the NFI and the 34th Annual NIDCAP Trainers Meeting. Dandle•LION Medical, the leader in neurodevelopmental care, makes it easy to provide consistent, effective, evidence-based care for hospitalized babies. Our patented positioning aids provide a womb-like experience while our education programs meet ongoing clinical needs. Becoming part of our Dandy Pride of Lions means providing the best care for your patients, support for your clinicians, and value for your organization. Sponsor of the 34th Annual NIDCAP Trainers Meeting