Short‐term effects of SAFE early intervention approach in infants born preterm: A randomized controlled single‐blinded study

OBJECTIVE: Recent literature suggests that goal‐oriented and family‐based interventions in enriched environment have a beneficial effect on neuromotor and cognitive development. We aimed to examine the short‐term effects of SAFE (Sensory strategies, Activity‐based motor training, Family collaboration, and Environmental Enrichment) early intervention approach on motor, cognitive, speech and language, and sensory development in preterm infants. METHODS: The study's sample population consisted of 24 preterm infants with corrected ages between 9 and 10 months. Infants in the control group participated in the family training program in accordance with the neurodevelopmental therapy principles (NDT). Infants in the treatment group were included in the family training program according to the principles of the SAFE Early Intervention Approach. Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development‐Infant Scale (AHEMD‐IS), Test of Sensory Functions in Infants (TSFI), Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III (Bayley III) were used to evaluate infants in both groups before and after 10 weeks of treatment (AHEMD‐IS). The Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale Short Form was used to assess the parents’ mental health (DASS‐SF). RESULTS: The interaction effects (time × group) revealed significant differences for Bayley‐III cognitive and language scores, TSFI total score, and AHEMD‐IS total score in favor of the SAFE group (p < .05). However, there were no differences in Bayley‐III motor composite score, COPM Performance score, and COPM Satisfaction score between the interaction effects (time × group) of the groups (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: SAFE early intervention approach improved cognitive, speech and language, sensory outcomes and provide enriched home environment in all domains when compared to NDT‐based home program. SAFE is a promising novel early intervention approach for preterm infants.