Effects of Safe Early Intervention Approach: A 3‐Year Follow‐Up
Bulent Elbasan, Ecem Yildiz Cangur, Pelin Atalan Efkere, Kivilcim GucuyenerABSTRACT
Purpose
Early intervention improves developmental outcomes in infants at risk. The SAFE early intervention approach has been found to be effective across multiple developmental domains. The aim of this study was to comparatively report the 3‐year follow‐up outcomes of the SAFE early intervention approach.
Methods
The study included children aged 2 and 3 years who had been identified as being at neurodevelopmental risk during early infancy and had received either the SAFE early intervention approach or a Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT)‐based intervention. This follow‐up study was based on a doctoral dissertation that originally enrolled 41 infants. At follow‐up, 22 children were assessed at 2 years of age (13 SAFE, 9 NDT) and 19 children at 3 years of age (11 SAFE, 8 NDT). Development was evaluated using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley‐III), and sensory processing was assessed using Dunn's Sensory Profile (7–36 months). Longitudinal changes in Bayley‐III composite scores were analyzed using two‐way repeated‐measures analysis of variance following multiple imputation for missing data, while sensory processing outcomes were compared cross‐sectionally.
Results
Cognitive and language composite scores improved significantly from 2 to 3 years of age in both the SAFE and NDT groups ( p < 0.05), whereas no significant change was observed in motor composite scores. No significant between‐group differences were identified in cognitive, language, or motor composite scores at either assessment point, and no significant group × time interactions were found for any Bayley‐III composite score ( p > 0.05). Cross‐sectional analyses of sensory processing revealed significant differences in selected domains in favor of the SAFE group at both 2 and 3 years of age ( p < 0.05).
Conclusion
Both the SAFE and NDT approaches supported developmental progress over time. Although no differences were observed in developmental trajectories between the groups, the SAFE approach showed potential advantages in selected aspects of sensory processing. Further studies with larger samples and longer follow‐up periods are needed to confirm these findings.