Table 3. Preference for Prophylactic Therapies Among All Participants.
| Drug | Participants who chose drug, No. (%) (n = 40) | Thematic analysis summary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major themes | Participants who chose and alluded to this theme, No. (%) | ||
| When therapies are offered as the only option (vs no prophylaxis) | |||
| Indomethacin | 36 (90.0) | Reduces death (critical outcome) | 22 (61.1) |
| Reduces severe IVH (critical outcome) | 21 (58.3) | ||
| Possible increase in CLD less worrisome | 12 (33.3) | ||
| Higher certainty in evidence for benefit (reduction in death, severe IVH, NEC), lower certainty in evidence for harm (increase in CLD) | 9 (25.0) | ||
| Ibuprofen | 34 (85.0) | Reduces death (critical outcome) | 14 (41.2) |
| Reduces severe IVH (critical outcome) | 15 (44.1) | ||
| No obvious evidence of harm | 10 (29.4) | ||
| Acetaminophen | 4 (10.0) | Not enough evidence, high uncertaintya | 25 (69.4) |
| Possible harm with increased risk of IVHa | 9 (25.0) | ||
| When all 3 options are available (vs not choosing anything) | |||
| Indomethacin | 19 (47.5) | Overall certainty of benefit better with indomethacin | 13 (68.4) |
| Ibuprofen | 16 (40.0) | No overall harm | 8 (50.0) |
| Indomethacin definitely cannot be used with hydrocortisone, hence going with the second best option | 7 (43.8) | ||
| No prophylaxis | 5 (12.5) | Would want to give hydrocortisone if offered | 2 (40.0) |
Abbreviations: CLD, chronic lung disease; IVH, intraventricular hemorrhage; NEC, necrotizing enterocolitis.
a
The major themes reflect the rationale of participants for not choosing acetaminophen (n = 36).