The newborn individualised developmental care and assessment program: A model of care for infants and families in hospital settings

Abstract Aim The Newborn Individualised Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) is an intervention and education programme that uses developmental observation for multidisciplinary healthcare professionals (HCP) caring for high‐risk infants and families. Infants prosper with the ongoing co‐regulation process of infant and family that is influenced by the physical and social environment. Methods The Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) Guidelines were applied to the NIDCAP intervention. The estimation of the individual infant's current goals is described from direct observation of behaviour in the context of ongoing care delivery. The infant's behaviour guides all caregivers to articulate current strengths and functioning for the development of individualised plans of care and support. The NIDCAP Nursery Program supports the full integration of NIDCAP into the healthcare system. Results NIDCAP is a system‐based, process‐oriented, attuned and responsive intervention for individualised developmental care for infants and families. Evidence shows NIDCAP significantly improves medical outcomes, with less time on the ventilator, improved weight gain, decreased length of stay, improved developmental outcomes and enhanced infant and family relationships. Evidence suggests that NIDCAP as an intervention improves parental competence, decreases stress for HCP teams and improves HCP satisfaction. Conclusion NIDCAP improves outcomes for infants and families requiring hospital care.