Structuring of an individualized program for sustained development in neonatal intensive care: how and why?

The Neonatal Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDC AP) is based upon a behavioral observation of the premature newborn. The in formation is used for suggesting individualized caregiving and environmenta l changes. The role of the parents in supporting the development is reinfor ced. This program appears to reduce ventilation, artificial feeding and hos pitalization stay length, and is also found to improve neurobehavioral matu ration. Its setting in a neonatal intensive care unit implies a collective reflective process and staff education (C) 1999 Elsevier, Paris.