Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
5
pubmed:dateCreated
2007-9-17
pubmed:abstractText
Direct comparisons of neonatal outcomes at any level (unit, regional or international), require detailed validation and standardisation to ensure 'like for like' evaluation. Reported variation in neonatal performance may be either real or the result of one or more artefacts of the data collection. These issues need to be understood in order for an accurate interpretation to be made. Such artefacts are a particular feature of national data collection systems and can lead to serious misinterpretation. For example, very preterm deliveries have a major impact on neonatal mortality rates in developed countries with births before 33 weeks of gestation accounting for between 35% and 70% of neonatal deaths. Variation in the rate of very preterm delivery rates and differing practices regarding registration of these infants can have a major effect on the recorded neonatal mortality rate. At a more local level the validity of neonatal comparisons often depends upon whether the question being raised is appropriately matched to the data obtained to answer it. Problems arise when the question being addressed has been poorly framed or the data used to answer it has been inappropriately chosen. Comparisons using questions based on clearly defined standardised outcome measures and good quality prospective data collection are a much better way to proceed.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Oct
pubmed:issn
1744-165X
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
12
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
337-43
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2007
pubmed:articleTitle
Epidemiology of prematurity--how valid are comparisons of neonatal outcomes?
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, 22-28 Princess Road West, Leicester LE1 6TP, UK. msn@leicester.ac.uk
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article