"Use of the Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination (HNNE) before 40 weeks of gestational age: a systematic review"

Abstract This systematic review aims to investigate whether the Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination (HNNE) has predictive potential for detecting the risk of neurodevelopmental impairments when applied early in preterm newborns (PTNB), specifically before 40 weeks of gestational age. The objective is to identify scientific studies that have examined the predictive value of the HNNE in the early detection of neurodevelopmental risks in this population. The review will cover the past ten years, including articles published between January 2015 and January 2025, and will include studies in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. The search will be conducted in the following scientific databases: MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, PsycINFO, CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), Embase, and CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature).