RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The Canadian Preterm Birth Network: a study protocol for improving outcomes for preterm infants and their families JF CMAJ Open FD Canadian Medical Association SP E44 OP E49 DO 10.9778/cmajo.20170128 VO 6 IS 1 A1 Prakesh S. Shah A1 Sarah D. McDonald A1 Jon Barrett A1 Anne Synnes A1 Kate Robson A1 Jonathan Foster A1 Jean-Charles Pasquier A1 K.S. Joseph A1 Bruno Piedboeuf A1 Thierry Lacaze-Masmonteil A1 Karel O'Brien A1 Sandesh Shivananda A1 Nils Chaillet A1 Petros Pechlivanoglou A1 for the Canadian Preterm Birth Network Investigators YR 2018 UL http://www.cmajopen.ca/content/6/1/E44.abstract AB Background: Preterm birth (birth before 37 wk of gestation) occurs in about 8% of pregnancies in Canada and is associated with high mortality and morbidity rates that substantially affect infants, their families and the health care system. Our overall goal is to create a transdisciplinary platform, the Canadian Preterm Birth Network (CPTBN), where investigators, stakeholders and families will work together to improve childhood outcomes of preterm neonates.Methods: Our national cohort will include 24 maternal-fetal/obstetrical units, 31 neonatal intensive care units and 26 neonatal follow-up programs across Canada with planned linkages to provincial health information systems. Three broad clusters of projects will be undertaken. Cluster 1 will focus on quality-improvement efforts that use the Evidence-based Practice for Improving Quality method to evaluate information from the CPTBN database and review the current literature, then identify potentially better health care practices and implement identified strategies. Cluster 2 will assess the impact of current practices and practice changes in maternal, perinatal and neonatal care on maternal, neonatal and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Cluster 3 will evaluate the effect of preterm birth on babies, their families and the health care system by integrating CPTBN data, parent feedback, and national and provincial database information in order to identify areas where more parental support is needed, and also generate robust estimates of resource use, cost and cost-effectiveness around preterm neonatal care.Interpretation: These collaborative efforts will create a flexible, transdisciplinary, evaluable and informative research and quality-improvement platform that supports programs, projects and partnerships focused on improving outcomes of preterm neonates.