Journal Article

Asian Neonatal Network Collaboration (AsianNeo): a study protocol for international collaborative comparisons of health services and outcomes to improve quality of care for sick newborn infants in Asia – survey, cohort and quality improvement studies

Kanai, Rie, Hosoi, Kenichiro, Takatera, Akihiro, Takahata, Yasushi, Chia, Lee Ser, Ito, Yuji, Nabetani, Makoto, Hasegawa, Keiko, Kotcharit, Pirarat, Kato, Yuichi, Negi, Reiko, Nishikubo, Toshiya, Yanagibe, Shuichi, Chen, Chih-Cheng, Oki, Yasushi, Sianturi, Pertin, Hung, Yi-Li, Morisawa, Takeshi, Takemoto, Kei, Insani, Nadia Dwi, Kumara, Saman, Ohkado, Yusuke, Tipprasert, Suparat, Morioka, Ichiro, Araki, Ryosuke, Chang, Hung-Yang, Nemoto, Atsushi, Takahashi, Nobuhiro, Ishioka, Toru, Goshi, Mitsushi, Maruyama, Yuko, Tseng, Kai-Ti, Limrungsikul, Anchalee, Nagaoki, Yuko, Ueno, Yasuhisa, Nagayama, Yoshihisa, Kageyama, Misao, Mantaring, Jacinto Blas, Ito, Naoki, Thanomsingh, Patcharin, Adachi, Shinsuke, Chieng, Chae Hee, Diong, AngShiau Chuen, Putra, Benny Sana, Ishii, Tsutomu, Choo, Chong Meng, Shimazaki, Akira, Imamura, Takashi, Choi, ChangWon, Lee, Jang Hoon, Yara, Asao, Nuntnarumit, Pracha, Nakamura, Eiki, Mustarim, Jayaratne, Kapila, Ohira, Jitsuko, Watanabe, Satoshi, Wu, Tsung-Yu, Nakano, Takashi, Okuno, Takashi, Akiyoshi, Shinosuke, Nakamura, Kenji, Unno, Mitsuaki, Lin, Yung Chieh, Shimizu, Masaki, Jenjarat, Kan

2024

Overview

IntroductionReducing neonatal deaths in premature infants in low- and middle-income countries is key to reducing global neonatal mortality. International neonatal networks, along with patient registries of premature infants, have contributed to improving the quality of neonatal care; however, the involvement of low-to-middle-income countries was limited. This project aims to form an international collaboration among neonatal networks in Asia (AsianNeo), including low-, middle- and high-income countries (or regions). Specifically, it aims to determine outcomes in sick newborn infants, especially very low birth weight (VLBW) infants or very preterm infants, with a view to improving the quality of care for such infants.Methods and analysisCurrently, AsianNeo comprises nine neonatal networks from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Thailand. AsianNeo will undertake the following four studies: (1) institutional questionnaire surveys investigating neonatal intensive care unit resources and the clinical management of sick newborn infants, with a focus on VLBW infants (nine countries/regions); (2) a retrospective cohort study to describe and compare the outcomes of VLBW infants among Asian countries and regions (four countries/regions); (3) a prospective cohort study to develop the AsianNeo registry of VLBW infants (six countries/regions); and (4) implementation and evaluation of educational and quality improvement projects in AsianNeo countries and regions (nine countries/regions).Ethics and disseminationThe study protocol was approved by the Research Ethics Board of the National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan (reference number 2020–244, 2022–156). The study findings will be disseminated through educational programmes, quality improvement activities, conference presentations and medical journal publications.

• Publisher: British Medical Journal Publishing Group,BMJ,BMJ Publishing Group LTD,BMJ Publishing Group
• Subject: Asia / Collaboration / Humans / Infant / Infant Mortality / Infant, Newborn / Infant, Premature / Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Intensive care / Intensive Care Units, Neonatal - organization & administration / Intensive Care Units, Neonatal - standards / International Cooperation / International health services / Medical equipment / Medicine / Mortality / Neonatal care / Neonatal intensive & critical care / NEONATOLOGY / Newborn babies / Paediatrics / Premature babies / Premature birth / Protocol / Quality Improvement - organization & administration / Quality of Health Care / R / Research Design / Retrospective Studies / Surveys and Questionnaires