What are the perceptions and support needs of adults born preterm?
Summary
Around 1 in 10 babies worldwide are born preterm, before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Thanks to advances in neonatal medicine, 95% of babies that are born preterm now survive to adulthood.
We know a lot about the challenges these babies face early in life, but much less about what life is like when these preterm babies grow up to be adults.
In the UK, we know very little about:
- How adults who were born preterm see their own health
- What support they feel they need
- How experiences differ for people from diverse backgrounds
- How experiences differ for those with long-term physical or psychological health conditions
This study has been designed with a group of adults who were born preterm to ensure the research reflects real-life experiences.
What does the study involve?
You can take part in one or both parts of the study:
- National survey. Share your views about your health, any support you feel you may need, and your experiences with healthcare.
- One-to-one interview. Tell your story in your own words, in more detail.
Participation is open to adults aged 18+ who were born before 37 weeks of pregnancy and live in the UK.
Why is this important?
Findings from this research will:
- Improve understanding of adult life after preterm birth
- Start building an understanding of how adults born preterm view healthcare and the kinds of support they value
- Ensure the research captures the experiences of people from diverse backgrounds
Investigators
This research is led by Jo Craddock, Nurse and PhD researcher at Imperial College London, within the Neonatal Medicine Research Group. It is funded by the NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre and supported by the Adult Preemie Advocacy Network (APAN) (link to website).
Take part
If you were born before 37 weeks of pregnancy, we’d love to hear from you. Your voice and lived experience matter.
Information for survey participants
Contact
If you have any questions about the study, please email: jo.craddock25@imperial.ac.uk
This work is being carried out under the supervision of Dr Annemarie Lodder and Dr Diana Varaden
