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Objective: Retention is essential in follow-up studies to reduce missing data, which can cause bias and limit the generalizability of the results. We investigated whether pre-notification letters would increase the response rates of approval forms and questionnaires and reduce the need for post-notifications in a prospective follow-up study of 17-year-old adolescents. Study design: and settings This long-term follow-up study included 269 adolescents were randomized (1:1) into a pre-notification group (n = 132) and a no pre-notification group (n = 137). The pre-notification letter was sent prior to the approval form and questionnaires. The outcome measures were the response rates to the approval forms and questionnaires and the rate of post-notifications required. Results: The adolescents who received the pre-notifications were more likely to return approval forms (n = 88/132, 67%) than the adolescents who did not receive the pre-notifications (n = 79/137, 58%) (OR 1.5, 95% CI 0.9–2.4). The rates of returned questionnaires were higher in the pre-notification group (n = 82/88, 93%) than in the no pre-notification group (n = 68/79, 86%) (OR 2.2, 95% CI 0.8–6.3). The adolescents who did not receive the pre-notifications were more likely to need the post-notifications than the adolescents who received the pre-notifications (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.4 to 6.5). Conclusions: Pre-notifications decreased the need for post-notifications and may increase retention in 17-year-old adolescents. Based on our findings, pre-notification letters are recommended in future follow-up studies in adolescents. Trial registration: The Ethics Review Committee of the Hospital District of South-West Finland approved the 17-year PIPARI Study protocol in January 2018 (23.1.2018; 2/180/2012). The study has been registered to the SWAT repository as SWAT 179. Filetoupload,1457904,en.pdf (qub.ac.uk). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To study the association between the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) at age 2 years and neurocognition at age 11 years in children born very preterm. We hypothesized that the HINE at 2 years would be associated with neurocognition, that is, neurological, motor, and cognitive outcomes at 11 years. Method: A total of 174 children (mean gestational age 29.0wks, SD 2.7; minimum 23.0, maximum 35.9; 95 [55%] males, 79 [45%] females) born very preterm (birthweight ≤1500g/gestational age <32wks), were included in a prospective cohort recruited from 2001 to 2006 in Turku, Finland. The HINE was performed at 2 years' corrected age. Neurocognition at 11 years was assessed with the Touwen neurological examination, Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition (MABC‐2), and full‐scale IQ (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition). Results: The HINE global score was associated with the results of the Touwen neurological examination (odds ratio [OR]=0.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.8–0.9, p=0.001), MABC‐2 (β=1.4, 95% CI 0.7–2.2, p<0.001), and full‐scale IQ (β=1.2, 95% CI 0.8–1.7, p<0.001), even when adjusted. When children with cerebral palsy (CP) were excluded, the HINE was still associated with full‐scale IQ (unadjusted β=1.2, 95% CI 0.3–2.1, p=0.01). Interpretation: A higher HINE global score at 2 years was associated with better general intelligence at 11 years even in children without CP. The HINE may be a useful tool to detect children at risk for later cognitive impairment. What this paper addsA Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) global score at 2 years was associated with long‐term neurocognitive function.Severe cognitive impairment was significantly more common in 11‐year‐old children with complex minor neurological dysfunction compared to typically developing children.The HINE performed at 2 years detects risks of cognitive impairment at 11 years in children born very preterm.A higher HINE score at 2 years was associated with better general intelligence at 11 years. What this paper adds: A Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) global score at 2 years was associated with long‐term neurocognitive function.Severe cognitive impairment was significantly more common in 11‐year‐old children with complex minor neurological dysfunction compared to typically developing children.The HINE performed at 2 years detects risks of cognitive impairment at 11 years in children born very preterm.A higher HINE score at 2 years was associated with better general intelligence at 11 years. This article is commented on by Bos on page 891 of this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]