ORCID
- Wisam Muhsen: 0000-0003-1978-9526
Abstract
Background: Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) is one of the significant complications of prematurity with its incidence on the rise, yet there is no clinically available prediction model. Aim:To assess the feasibility of conducting a study measuring right ventricular (RV) function as a contributor to the development of an early BPD prediction model in preterm infants. Methods This PhD comprised a scoping review and a single-centre mixed-methods feasibility cohort study with three quantitative and qualitative work packages, conducted at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. The scoping review searched Medline, CINAHL, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, JBI Evidence-Based Practice, and Gray Literature, using Boolean operators and Medical Subject Headings descriptors. The review included studies that used echo scans to assess RV function in preterm infants with early BPD in the first two weeks postnatally. In WP-I, two echocardiography scans were performed on day 5 and 9 postnatally on the enrolled preterm infants born < 32 weeks gestation, to collect predefined cardiac measurements. WP-II and WP-III comprised the embedded qualitative research. WP-II analysed parental entries in the neonatal diaries during the first 10 postnatal days, while WP-III examined the experiences of parents and healthcare professionals through semi-structured interviews. Findings The scoping review helped in mapping the extracted findings in a tabular format with a narrative summary. Examination of the included studies (n=8) highlighted important knowledge gaps e.g., the required number, timing and the most sensitive echo indices to assess right ventricle function. WP-I: preterm infants (n=40) were enrolled, all had both echo scans, apart from one who got only the first one. WP-I provided feasibility outcomes with the categorisation of the candidate clinical and echo variables for consideration of early BPD prediction model construction. WP-II & -III provided insights on the parental and staff experiences and perspectives enabling researchers to extract important proposals for future research. Conclusion The scoping review further shaped the design and focus of this study. The quantitative and qualitative findings in WPs I to III demonstrated that the study procedures were both feasible and acceptable. In addition, the results laid the foundation for future research by establishing clear priorities and guiding the design of a prospective multicentre study aimed at developing an early BPD prediction model.
Awarding Institution(s)
University of Plymouth
Award Sponsors
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Supervisor
Jos Latour, Joanne Hosking, Eirik Nestaas
Document Type
Thesis
Publication Date
2026
Embargo Period
2026-08-27
Deposit Date
August 2026
Additional Links
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Muhsen, W. (2026) Exploring Right vEntricular function applicability in a Prediction mOdel to identify pReterm infanTs with early BronchoPulmonary Dysplasia (REPORT – BPD Study): a Mixed Methods Observational Cohort Feasibility Study. Thesis. University of Plymouth. Available at: https://doi.org/10.24382/j2me-c934
