Necrotizing enterocolitis involves the inflammation of an infant’s intestines which leads to the damage of the gut. Necrotizing enterocolitis is a common intestinal disease among the infants with low birth weight and premature babies. It has increased the death rates in the neonatal population. Necrotizing enterocolitis is the main reason for morbidity in the neonatal population. The improvement in technology has assisted in improving the survival rates of premature babies, but the prevalence of necrotizing enterocolitis has not reduced. The disease remains unclear to the neonatologists around the world due to its complications.
Objective
There is a need for carrying out more research to investigate the appropriate evidence-based strategies for the management and treatment of necrotizing enterocolitis. The study is to focus on the consequences of necrotizing enterocolitis on the neonate population. The research will assist in revealing the effects of necrotizing enterocolitis on the neonatal community.
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Problem Statement
The prevalence of necrotizing enterocolitis among the low weight infants and premature babies has been a significant problem in the neonatal population. The main risk factors associated with necrotizing enterocolitis include prematurity and the early infants (Niño, Sodhi, and Hackam, 2016) . The other risks factors of necrotizing enterocolitis include feeding, hypoxia, and sepsis (Gephart et al., 2012). Necrotizing enterocolitis affects the children who are below four weeks old. The statistics in research studies indicate that more than 90% of babies with necrotizing enterocolitis are born prematurely. The mature infants also develop the disease. The research studies suggest that 12% of the infants with weight below 1500 g establish necrotizing enterocolitis and 30% do not survive. The neonatal population has decreased as a result of the increase in premature infants and low weight babies who are prone to NEC. The economic costs of treating necrotizing enterocolitis are high. The total cost of hospitalization per year on NEC in the United States is $ 5 billion. The average medical cost per patient is $ 73,700 for 22 days. The surgical expense per patient is $ 186,200 for two months (Gephart et al., 2012).
The main risks factors that lead to the development of necrotizing enterocolitis include prematurity and low birth weight (Niño, Sodhi, and Hackam, 2016) . The medical professionals have developed treatment, strategies and evidence-based practices to reduce the prevalence of NEC. The evidence from research indicates the evidence-based practices on feeding guidelines, probiotics and breastfeeding reduce the risks as well as the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (Gephart et al., 2012; Choi, 2014; Niño, Sodhi and Hackam, 2016 ). The breastfeeding milk reduces the development of NEC. The research studies suggest that the infant formula should be increased and the breast milk should be decreased (Gephart et al., 2012; Choi, 2014; Niño, Sodhi and Hackam, 2016 ).
Foreground Question
What is the effect of breastfeeding, nutritional guidelines and probiotics on babies with necrotizing enterocolitis and neonatal population?
PICOT
Patient Population
The medical professionals have been seeking solutions to increase the neonatal population due to a high prevalence of premature and low-weight babies who have necrotizing enterocolitis.
Intervention
The research studies indicate that the risks and prevalence of NEC can be reduced through the implementation of evidence-based practices which include breastfeeding, nutritional guidelines, and administration of probiotics.
Comparison Intervention
The implementation of the evidence-based practices on breastfeeding, nutritional guidelines and administration of probiotics are effective in reducing the prevalence of NEC (Gephart et al., 2012; Choi, 2014; Niño, Sodhi, and Hackam, 2016 ). The medical and surgical processes are effective, but they have long-term consequences on the babies (Niño, Sodhi, and Hackam, 2016) .
Outcome of Interest
The evidence-based practices are effective in reducing the risks and prevalence of NEC. The babies have to recover from the disease. The intervention will reduce the incidence of NEC among the babies.
Time of Intervention
The health condition of the babies will be examined to determine the ones that have NEC. The breastfeeding method can be implemented for three years. The nutritional guideline can be implemented for three years. The probiotics can be administered for two years. The effectiveness of the evidence-based methods can be measured after four years. The expected outcomes include an increase in the baby’s appetite and the number of white blood cells.
Importance of the Study
This research will be important in treating and preventing necrotizing enterocolitis. The research can be helpful in the possible reformations in public health. Necrotizing enterocolitis is a significant threat to the neonate population. It is possible to make plans for treating the disease as a result of gaining knowledge on its treatment and prevention.
Research Design
The research design that will be used in the study is experimental research design. The experimental research design seeks to determine the effects of the independent variable (necrotizing enterocolitis) on the dependent variable (neonate population).
Population
The population that will be used in this study is the data from various sources of literature on the prevalence and effects of NEC in the neonatal population.
Sample
The study will include a sample size of data collected in the past six years regarding necrotizing enterocolitis. The data will be reviewed and analyzed collectively.
Data Collection
The data for this study will be retrieved from secondary sources. The data will be collected from literature sources within the past six years from 2012 to 2018. The secondary data will be retrieved from annual reports and public health websites to establish the prevalence of NEC and the neonatal population.
References
Choi, Y. Y. (2014). Necrotizing enterocolitis in newborns: update in pathophysiology and newly emerging therapeutic strategies. Korean Journal of Pediatrics , 57 (12), 505-513.
Gephart, M. S. M., McGrath, J. M., Effken, J. A., & Halpern, M. D. (2012). Necrotizing enterocolitis risk: state of the science. Advances in Neonatal Care , 12 (2), 77.
Niño, D. F., Sodhi, C. P., & Hackam, D. J. (2016). Necrotizing enterocolitis: new insights into pathogenesis and mechanisms. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology , 13 (10), 590.
