Improving care for moderate and late preterm infants in Alberta NICUs
Official title: Alberta (AB) Collaborative Quality Improvement Strategies to Improve Outcomes of Preterm Infants 32 - 36 Weeks' Gestation: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial
Run by University of Calgary · NCT05231200 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new way to improve care for babies born a bit early in Alberta's NICUs to see if it helps them go home sooner.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 32 Weeks to 36 Weeks |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 9500 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Calgary Academic / other |
| Locations | 12 sites (Calgary, Alberta and 11 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 1, 2023 |
| Main results expected | August 30, 2027 |
| Study ends | August 30, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | July 18, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT05231200 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are preterm infants born at 32 to 36 weeks' gestation admitted to participating NICUs.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with major congenital anomalies, those admitted to surgical NICUs, or infants born outside Alberta may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The ABC-QI Trial aims to implement collaborative quality improvement strategies to standardize care for infants born at 32-36 weeks' gestation in neonatal intensive care units across Alberta. This stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial will involve 12 NICUs, where each unit will transition to the intervention arm at different time points. The intervention includes team building, education, and standardized care bundles for respiratory and nutritional care, with the goal of reducing hospital stay duration for preterm infants. The control arm will establish baseline practices before the intervention is introduced.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this trial could significantly reduce the length of hospital stays for preterm infants, allowing them to return home sooner.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies utilizing collaborative quality improvement strategies in neonatal care have shown promising results, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Preterm Infants: Infants born at 32 to 36 weeks' gestation and admitted to the participating NICUs or postpartum units. Quality Improvement Implementation Survey version 2 (QIIS-II) and semi-structured interview participants: Management staff, nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, and allied health staff employed in participating NICUs. Exclusion Criteria: * Preterm Infants: * Major congenital anomalies or chromosomal abnormalities. * Primary admission to a surgical NICU: Alberta Children's Hospital or Stollery Children's Hospital. * Infants born in or transferred to a NICU outside Alberta. * Patients who have imposed confidentiality restrictions on accessing their health records.
Where it's running
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Peter Lougheed Centre
Calgary, Alberta, Canada Recruiting -
Foothills Medical Centre
Calgary, Alberta, Canada Recruiting -
Rockyview General Hospital
Calgary, Alberta, Canada Recruiting -
South Health Campus
Calgary, Alberta, Canada Recruiting -
Grande Prairie Regional Hospital
Calgary, Alberta, Canada Recruiting -
Royal Alexandra Hospital
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Recruiting
Show 6 more locations
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Misericordia Community Hospital
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Recruiting -
Grey Nuns Community Hospital
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Recruiting -
Sturgeon Community Hospital
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Recruiting -
Chinook Regional Hospital
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Recruiting -
Medicine Hat Regional Hospital
Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada Recruiting -
Red Deer Regional Hospital
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Ayman Abou Mehrem, MD — University of Calgary
- Study coordinator: Mahesha Bandara, MSc
- Email: mahesha.yatigalpotht@ucalgary.ca
- Phone: 1-403-944-3753
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.