Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Care In South Carolina: Standards of Care In Select Hospitals

Author(s)

Jenna FlakeFollow

School Name

South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Physiology and Health

Presentation Type

Mentored

Abstract

Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) has become a rising issue in the nation in the past six years and has increased fivefold since 2012. NOWS is caused when pregnant mothers use opioids during the gestational period. Without any established protocol to be followed it is hard to make sure that babies diagnosed with NOWS are receiving the best line of treatment (Grim, K., Harrison, T. E., & Wilder, R. T. (2013)).The purpose of this study is to investigate what treatment methods and protocols hospitals use in the state of South Carolina. Six hospitals were chosen to participate in this study due to their association with TRANSFORM SC, a collaborative pediatric clinical trials network associated with the USC School of Medicine and Palmetto Health. A REDCap survey was created to capture information such as whether or not a protocol has been established and what pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are recommended at each hospital. Data collection is still ongoing but once complete, protocols and treatments will be compared in order to determine how South Carolina identifies and treats infants with NOWS. Future studies will expand participation to every hospital in the state with a neonatal population and then hopefully expand nationwide. This study is the first step to better understanding the most beneficial and effective treatment for NOWS in order to one day establish an evidence-based treatment protocol.

Location

Founders Hall 142 A

Start Date

3-30-2019 10:00 AM

Presentation Format

Oral Only

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 30th, 10:00 AM

Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Care In South Carolina: Standards of Care In Select Hospitals

Founders Hall 142 A

Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) has become a rising issue in the nation in the past six years and has increased fivefold since 2012. NOWS is caused when pregnant mothers use opioids during the gestational period. Without any established protocol to be followed it is hard to make sure that babies diagnosed with NOWS are receiving the best line of treatment (Grim, K., Harrison, T. E., & Wilder, R. T. (2013)).The purpose of this study is to investigate what treatment methods and protocols hospitals use in the state of South Carolina. Six hospitals were chosen to participate in this study due to their association with TRANSFORM SC, a collaborative pediatric clinical trials network associated with the USC School of Medicine and Palmetto Health. A REDCap survey was created to capture information such as whether or not a protocol has been established and what pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are recommended at each hospital. Data collection is still ongoing but once complete, protocols and treatments will be compared in order to determine how South Carolina identifies and treats infants with NOWS. Future studies will expand participation to every hospital in the state with a neonatal population and then hopefully expand nationwide. This study is the first step to better understanding the most beneficial and effective treatment for NOWS in order to one day establish an evidence-based treatment protocol.