State‑Wide Implementation of Early Identification for Cerebral Palsy and Broader Neurodevelopmental Outcomes: Baseline Findings from the Queensland Early Detection and Intervention Network (QEDIN).

Authors

Carly Luke, Joanne George, Katherine A Benfer, Anya Gordon, Christine Finn, Sarah Gibson, Laura Purcell, Morgan Carlton, Ellena Oakes, Megan Kentish, Rachel Thomas, Lynda McNamara, Shaneen Leishman, Margot Bosanquet, Robert S Ware, Arend F Bos, Roslyn N Boyd

Published in

The Journal of pediatrics. Pages 115384. Nov 05, 2026. Epub Nov 05, 2026.

Abstract

To describe the real-world implementation of the cerebral palsy (CP) early detection guidelines, uptake, and outcomes of early screening, using an Australian state-wide Early Detection and Intervention Network.
Infants (birth years July 2017- June 2025) with newborn-identifiable or post-neonatal risk factors for neurodisability or delay (NDD), including CP, were prospectively recruited from health services across Queensland, Australia. The network utilized a knowledge-to-action implementation framework. Clinicians were trained and supported to screen infants using General Movement Assessment (GMA), with optimality scoring (MOS-R) at 3-5 months corrected age (CA) and the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) at 3-12 months CA. Infants deemed high-likelihood of CP or NDD were referred to relevant early intervention studies and/or clinical services.
688 clinicians were trained in guideline recommended detection tools (n=599 GMA, n=665 HINE). Over the 8-year study period, 1100/1234 (89%) referred infants consented to screening (56% male), mean (SD) gestation age 32.6 (5.1) weeks, 22 infants withdrew. There were 954/1078 (88%) infants screened on GMA (296 writhing, 935 fidgety, 819 MOS-R), 587 (54%) HINE and 530 (49%) both. Overall, 136 (13%) of infants were deemed eligible for, and consented to participate in CP-specific early intervention studies. The network demonstrated high engagement across metropolitan (n=453/1100, 52%), regional (n=555, 42%), and rural-remote (n=66, 6%) settings.
State-wide implementation of the CP early detection guidelines through a clinical network of support achieved high uptake and engagement with early screening and demonstrated the feasibility of delivering evidence-based assessment at scale across diverse health service contexts.

PMID:
42988318
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 06 Nov 2026.

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