Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27797978›Full record

SynthesisBMJ open2016

What factors predict length of stay in a neonatal unit: a systematic review.

Sarah E Seaton, Lisa Barker, David Jenkins, Elizabeth S Draper, Keith R Abrams, Bradley N Manktelow

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ open, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 35 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
35citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

35 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Article
  5. Investigation and control of a meticillin-resistantInfection prevention in practice · 2026
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  15. Neonatal intensive care unit occupancy rate and probability of discharge of very preterm infants.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2023
    Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
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  19. Article
  20. Predicting next-day discharge via electronic health record access logs.Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA · 2021
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Sarah E SeatonDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
Lisa BarkerNeonatal Unit, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
David JenkinsDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
Elizabeth S DraperDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
Keith R AbramsDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
Bradley N ManktelowDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.

Funding

Department of Health DRF-2013-06-011
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveIn the UK, 1 in 10 babies require specialist neonatal care. This care can last from hours to months depending on the need of the baby. The increasing survival of very preterm babies has increased neonatal care resource use. Evidence from multiple studies is crucial to identify factors which may be important for predicting length of stay (LOS). The ability to predict LOS is vital for resource planning, decision-making and parent counselling. The objective of this review was to identify which factors are important to consider when predicting LOS in the neonatal unit.

designA systematic review was undertaken which searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and Scopus for papers from 1994 to 2016 (May) for research investigating prediction of neonatal LOS. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Quality of each study was discussed, but not used as a reason for exclusion from the review.

main outcome measurePrediction of LOS in the neonatal unit.

results9 studies were identified which investigated the prediction of neonatal LOS indicating a lack of evidence in the area. Inherent factors, particularly birth weight, sex and gestational age allow for a simple and objective prediction of LOS, which can be calculated on the first day of life. However, other early occurring factors may well also be important and estimates may need revising throughout the baby's stay in hospital.

conclusionsPredicting LOS is vital to aid the commissioning of services and to help clinicians in their counselling of parents. The lack of evidence in this area indicates a need for larger studies to investigate methods of accurately predicting LOS.

Indexed as

Intensive Care Units, NeonatalAdultBirth WeightCounselingEnglandFemaleHealth Care SurveysHumansInfant, NewbornInfant, PrematureInfant, Very Low Birth WeightLength of StayMaleParentsPregnancyPrognosisEPIDEMIOLOGYNEONATOLOGY

Identifiers

PMID27797978
PMCPMC5073598

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.