How can we evaluate developmental care practices prior to their implementation in a neonatal intensive care unit?

Developmental care is designed to allow optimal neurobehavioral development of the preterm infant. The Neonatal Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) associates various strategies and focuses on individualized, family-oriented care. Scientific evaluation of developmental care is needed. Randomized controlled trials are the basis for medical evaluation, but present some limitations for developmental care studies. Qualitative research and benchmarking could be of interest in this field of neonatal medicine.