Measurement of neonatal abstinence syndrome: Evaluation of short forms

Hendrée E Jones; Carl Seashore; Elisabeth Johnson; Evette Horton; Kevin E O'Grady; Kim Andringa

doi:10.5055/jom.2016.0308

Measurement of neonatal abstinence syndrome: Evaluation of short forms

J Opioid Manag. 2016 Jan-Feb;12(1):19-23. doi: 10.5055/jom.2016.0308.

Authors

Hendrée E Jones¹, Carl Seashore², Elisabeth Johnson³, Evette Horton⁴, Kevin E O'Grady⁵, Kim Andringa⁶

Affiliations

¹ Executive Director, UNC Horizons, and Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Adjunct Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
² Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
³ Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
⁴ Maternal and Child Therapist, UNC Horizons, Clinical Instructor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
⁵ Associate Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, Maryland.
⁶ Director of Research and Evaluation, UNC Horizons, Research Instructor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

PMID: 26908300
DOI: 10.5055/jom.2016.0308

Abstract

Objectives: 1) How well do the short forms previously developed from the Maternal Opioid Treatment: Human Experimental Research (MOTHER) neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) scale (MNS) discriminate between neonates untreated and treated for NAS? (2) Can a short form be developed that is superior to other short forms in discriminating between the two groups?

Design/participants: This secondary analysis study used data from 131 delivered neonates in the MOTHER study, a randomized controlled trial comparing neonatal and maternal outcomes in opioid-dependent pregnant women administered buprenorphine or methadone.

Setting: Comprehensive care was provided at seven university hospitals.

Outcome measures: A 19-item instrument measuring neonatal abstinence signs.

Results: A five-item index proved superior to the previous indices (ps < 0.01) and discriminated between the treated and untreated NAS groups as well as did the MNS total score (p=0.09).

Conclusions: A short form developed from the MNS shows promise as a possible screening measure.

Publication types

Evaluation Study
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome / diagnosis*
Pregnancy
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding