Evaluation of the effect of continuity of care on growth, development, and head control ability in children with brain injury: A retrospective study

Continuity nursing care is a structured intervention designed to improve the developmental outcomes of children with brain injuries. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of continuity nursing care on physical growth, head control, cognitive development, and motor function in children with brain injuries. A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including 95 children with brain injuries treated between January 2022 and December 2023. Participants were divided into a continuity care group (n = 37) and a conventional care group (n = 58). Propensity score matching was used to adjust for baseline differences, resulting in 37 matched pairs. Data were collected on demographics, head control, physical growth (height, weight, head circumference), cognitive development (Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development), motor function (Peabody Developmental Motor Scale), and developmental domains (Gesell Developmental Scale). Statistical analyses included t tests, χ2 tests, repeated measures ANOVA, and Bonferroni corrections. After matching, baseline characteristics between the groups were balanced (P > .05). At 3 and 6 months post-intervention, the continuity care group showed significant improvements in head control, cognitive index, and motor function compared with the conventional care group (P < .001). For example, at 6 months, the continuity care group exhibited higher scores in gross motor (57.4 ± 5.0 vs 50.8 ± 5.1), fine motor (60.2 ± 5.3 vs 53.5 ± 5.5), and total motor quotient (117.6 ± 7.0 vs 100.3 ± 7.2; P < .001). Subgroup analysis revealed that continuity care significantly improved head control in children aged 0 to 3 years (P < .001), while no significant difference was observed in children aged 4 to 5 years (P = .10). Physical growth indicators (height, weight, head circumference) were also significantly better in the continuity care group at 3 and 6 months (P < .05). Continuity nursing care significantly enhances head control, physical growth, cognitive development, and motor function in children with brain injuries, with more pronounced effects in younger children (0-3 years). These findings highlight the importance of continuity care in improving developmental outcomes and suggest its integration into standard pediatric rehabilitation protocols.