- The first objective of the study is to describe the developmental course of executive function in very preterm children from 4-12 years of age, compared to that of an age- and gender-matched term born normal control group. - The second objective…
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Other condition
Synonym
Health condition
vroeggeboorte, leer- en gedragsproblemen
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
To evaluate executive functioning, a comprehensive executive function battery
will be used, assessing the dimensions inhibition, working memory,
set-shifting, fluency, planning and attention.
To evaluate academic functioning, with respect to the areas mathematics,
reading and spelling, the Dutch National Pupil Monitoring System, developed by
CITO, will be used. This system enables to longitudinally monitor pupils'
development throughout all grades of primary education in all areas of academic
functioning.
To evaluate behavioural problems, standardized parent and teacher
questionnaires will be used as well as the disruptive behaviour disorders
section of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-IV (DISC-IV,) of the
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH, 1997), a highly structured parent
interview to assess DSM-IV psychiatric disorders and symptoms in children and
adolescents.
Secondary outcome
Neonatal characteristics such as birthweight, gestational age, duration of NICU
stay, days of assisted ventilation, presence of CLD, IVH / PVL and severity of
illness (NBRS) as well as environmental characteristics such as SES, parent
rearing attitude and family characteristics will be collected.
Background summary
Despite improved neonatal and perinatal care, the developmental outcome of very
preterm children (gestational age < 30 weeks) is of significant concern. When
growing older, impairments in cognitive function, learning difficulties and
behavioural problems have been frequently reported. As a result, difficulties
at school, the need for special assistance and special education are common in
very preterm children. Efforts to improve understanding and early
identification of these learning and behavioural problems in order to initiate
early intervention are needed. Executive functioning has been pointed out to
be one of the crucial underlying mechanisms in learning performance and
behavioural skills. Executive function refers to a set of neurocognitive
processes such as inhibition, goal selection, planning, organization, working
memory and cognitive flexibility, which are important for a child*s appropriate
cognitive, behavioural and social functioning. In a recently conducted study we
demonstrated deficits in executive function in preterm children at early school
age. We predict deficits in executive functions to be causally related to the
emergence of learning and behavioural problems. Until now, it remains unknown
whether in very preterm children executive dysfunction precede learning and
behavioural problems and the developmental trajectories of executive function
have not yet been addressed.
Study objective
- The first objective of the study is to describe the developmental course of
executive function in very preterm children from 4-12 years of age, compared to
that of an age- and gender-matched term born normal control group.
- The second objective is to examine whether deficits in executive function in
very preterm children antecede the onset of behavioural and learning problems.
This may substantiate the role of executive function deficits as markers or
mediators for future behavioural and learning problems.
- The third objective is to evaluate the impact of neonatal and environmental
characteristics on the development of executive function, behavioural and
learning problems
Study design
A two-year longitudinal case-control follow-up study, within a repeated
measures design.
Study burden and risks
Minimal risk and burden.
Dr. Molewaterplein 60
3015 GJ Rotterdam
NL
Dr. Molewaterplein 60
3015 GJ Rotterdam
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
Very preterm:
- Gestational age below 30 weeks
- Single birth
- Caucasian
Control group:
- Gestational age more than 37 weeks
- Normal birthweight
- Uncomplicated delivery
Exclusion criteria
Very preterm:
- Gestational age more than 30 weeks
- Multiple births
- Non-Caucasian
Control group:
- Gestational age below 37 weeks
- SGA/ Low birthweight
- Perinatal problems
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL18893.078.07 |