Neonatal intensive care unit discharge preparedness: primary care implications

Transition-to-home arrangements for very preterm infants and related parental needs at perinatal centres in Austria and Switzerland: a cross-sectional multicentred study

INTRODUCTION

The current study aims to give an overview of transition-to-home services provided by perinatal centres in Austria and Switzerland and to evaluate parental satisfaction with the care provided.

METHODS

This cross-sectional multicentred study was conducted by performing two surveys between May 2022 and November 2023: one among all level III perinatal centres in Austria (n=7) and Switzerland (n=9) (institutional survey) and one among parents of very preterm infants treated at one selected perinatal centre in each of the two countries (parental survey). Both questionnaires consisted of matching questions focusing on current transition-to-home services.

RESULTS

All perinatal centres participated in the institutional survey and 61 out of 84 parents completed the parental questionnaire (response rate 72.6%). The discharge process to home was identified as a multidisciplinary effort involving various healthcare professionals with discrepancies in responses within and between institutional and parental questionnaires. Certain disparities were observed in the timing of discharge conversations between healthcare providers and parents. Most physicians mentioned initiating discharge discussions while the child was still in the intensive care unit, but only 14.8% of parents recalled these early conversations. One-fourth of perinatal centres actively contact patients after discharge. So far, video consultations or mobile applications have not been offered. While 95.1% of parents expressed satisfaction with the care received, there were concerns about contradictory medical information, particularly regarding breastfeeding.

CONCLUSION

The transition-to-home process for very preterm infants presents several opportunities for improvement, especially concerning communication between healthcare providers and parents, lactation counselling services and the timely outreach to parents shortly after discharge. The findings of the current study may further improve this transition process and might aid in the development of a standardised programme that is tailored to parental needs.

The mediating effects of parenting self-efficacy between readiness for hospital discharge and post-discharge coping difficulty among mothers of preterm infants

Post-discharge coping difficulty presents a significant challenge for mothers of preterm infants. The readiness for hospital discharge and parenting self-efficacy are crucial factors influencing post-discharge coping difficulty. However, the pathways through which these factors impact post-discharge coping difficulty remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the impact of readiness for hospital discharge on post-discharge coping difficulty and the mediating role of parenting self-efficacy among mothers of preterm infants. A prospective study involving 462 mothers of preterm infants from six tertiary hospitals in Shandong Province was conducted. Mothers were evaluated on the day of discharge (using the Baseline characteristics and Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale) and three weeks post-discharge (utilizing the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale-Efficacy subscale and Post-Discharge Coping Difficulty Scale). Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the mediating effect. The results of this study revealed that readiness for hospital discharge significantly decreased post-discharge coping difficulty (β = - 0.533, P < 0.001), and parenting self-efficacy also significantly reduced post-discharge coping difficulty (β = - 0.419, P < 0.001). Furthermore, parenting self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between readiness for hospital discharge and post-discharge coping difficulty, accounting for 25.35% of the total effect. Mothers reported a moderate level of post-discharge coping difficulty. In assisting mothers of premature infants to alleviate post-discharge coping difficulty, nurses could implement strategies focused on enhancing readiness for hospital discharge and parenting self-efficacy.

Experiences of families and health professionals along the care continuum for low-birth weight neonates: A constructivist grounded theory study

AIMS

To explore the experiences of health professionals and families concerning supporting low-birth weight (LBW) infants along the continuum of care (CoC) in Ghana with the goal to unveil new strategies to improve the quality of neonatal care.

DESIGN

A constructivist grounded theory.

METHOD

Simultaneous data collection and analysis among health professionals alongside families with LBW infants from September 2020 to April 2021. The study used constructivist grounded theory strategies for data collection and analysis.

RESULTS

The analysis of 25 interviews resulted in a theoretical model describing 10 themes along the CoC for LBW infants, categorized into health and family systems drivers. In this paper, we focus on the latter. Early bonding and family involvement were empowering. Mothers needed assistance in balancing hope and confidence which enabled them to render special care to their LBW infants. Providing mothers with financial and domestic support as well as creating awareness on newborn health in communities were important.

CONCLUSION

To achieve family involvement, a coordinated CoC must entail key players and be culturally inclusive. It must be applied at all levels in the CoC process in a non-linear faction. This can help LBW infants to thrive and to reach their full developmental potential.

IMPACT

The theoretical model developed shows the importance of family involvement through family systems care for a comprehensive response in addressing needs of health professionals and families with LBW infants and bridging the fragmentations in the neonatal CoC in Ghana. Context-tailored research on family systems care in the neonatal period is necessary to achieve a quality CoC for LBW infants and their families.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Caregivers and providers participated by granting in-depth interviews. Care providers further contributed through their feedback on preliminary findings.

Scoping review of interventions to support families with preterm infants post-NICU discharge

BACKGROUND

A successful transition from the NICU to home is fundamental for the long-term health and well-being of preterm infants. Post-NICU discharge, parents may experience a lack of support and resources during the transition to home. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify post-NICU discharge interventions that may reduce parental stress and provide support to families with preterm infants.

METHOD

Systematic searches of databases, i.e., PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL. Inclusion criteria were data-based articles: 1) published in English between 2011 and 2021, 2) published in peer-reviewed journals, (3) focused on families with preterm infants, and (4) focused on interventions to reduce parental stress and provide support to families with preterm infants post-NICU discharge.

RESULTS

26 articles were included and synthesized. We identified the following face-to-face and remote communication interventions: in-person home visits, phone/video calls, text messages, periodic email questionnaires, mobile/website apps, and online social networking sites.

DISCUSSION

Families may highly benefit from a comprehensive family-focused post-NICU discharge follow-up intervention that includes face-to-face and remote communication and support. Post-NICU discharge interventions are imperative to provide education related to infant care and health, increase parental confidence and competency, increase parent-infant relationship, promote emotional and social support, reduce unplanned hospital visits, parental stress, and maternal post-partum depression.

Family-centred care and breastfeeding self-efficacy determined how ready mothers were for their infants to be discharged from a neonatal intensive care unit

AIM

We examined if a range of factors were associated with how ready mothers were for their infants to be discharged from a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of a study on the well-being of mothers whose infants were hospitalised in the level 3 NICU at the Jewish General Hospital in Canada. We studied 132 mother-infant dyads: 70 from an open ward NICU and 62 from the purpose-built NICU with pods or single family rooms that replaced it in 2016. The mothers completed a questionnaire on NICU stress and their perceptions of family-centred care on enrolment and another on breastfeeding self-efficacy and readiness to go home a week before discharge. The infants' characteristics were retrieved from the medical files.

RESULTS

The infants were born at a mean age of 29.8 ±3.1 weeks. Greater family-centred care during early hospitalisation (p=0.01) and greater breastfeeding self-efficacy in the period before discharge (p=0.04) were significantly associated with higher readiness for discharge. The unit design was not a significantly associated with readiness for discharge.

CONCLUSION

The quality of early family-centred care and breastfeeding self-efficacy were significantly associated with how ready mothers were for their preterm infant to be discharged from the NICU.

Readiness for Hospital Discharge and Its Correlation with the Quality of Discharge Teaching among the Parents of Premature Infants in NICU

Objectives

To assess the extent of the readiness for hospital discharge and the correlation with discharge teaching quality among parents of premature infants' in the NICU.

Background

Low readiness for discharge from the hospital can lead to negative outcomes in healthcare for infants born prematurely and their parents. Discharge guidelines are a basic approach to ensure the readiness of the parents for discharge from the hospital. No investigation has ever been conducted into the sufficiency of hospital discharge guidelines for premature infants and their impact on parental readiness for hospital discharge.

Design

Data was collected from four hospitals in China using a correlational descriptive study.

Methods

Two hundred and eight parents of premature NICU-hospitalized infants of four tertiary hospitals in Henan Province from May to October 2020 were enrolled. The general information questionnaire, the readiness for hospital discharge scale- (RHDS-) parent form, and the quality of discharge teaching scale- (QDTS-) parent form were used for data collection. Spearman correlation analysis and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.

Results

The total score for hospital discharge readiness was high (8.05 ± 1.11). The total score of the quality of discharge guidelines was moderate (7.44 ± 1.44). Moreover, the discharge teaching quality was positively correlated with the parents' readiness. Positive correlations were found between PRHDS and QDTS subscales, including content received and delivery, physical-emotional status, knowledge, and expected support.

Conclusion

The quality of the discharge guidelines perceived by parents of premature infants was moderate, which may have reduced their readiness for hospital discharge. Relevance to Clinical Practice. This study furnishes basic information on the importance of readiness of discharge for the parents of premature infants. The teaching guides nurses to enhance the quality of discharge teaching and the readiness of parents for discharge from the hospital.

The effect of Web-based preterm infant care training on mothers' self-confidence

The internet can be used as an alternative method in infant care education for mothers of preterm infants. This study was conducted to examine the effect of the Web-based infant care training program given to mothers of preterm infants on the self-confidence levels of mothers. This nonrandomized controlled study with a posttest design was conducted in Ministry of Health training and research hospital and university hospital. The study group comprised 84 mothers and their infants (intervention group: N = 42; control group: N = 42). Mothers with preterm infants in the intervention group participated in the Web-based program. The self-confidence of the mothers was evaluated before and after the training. The mothers' Pharis self-confidence scale mean scores were higher than the control group, but there was no significant difference. Web-based education program can be an alternative method that can be used in the education of mothers with preterm infants.

NICU discharge preparation and transition planning: guidelines and recommendations

In this section, we present Interdisciplinary Guidelines and Recommendations for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Discharge Preparation and Transition Planning. The foundation for these guidelines and recommendations is based on existing literature, practice, available policy statements, and expert opinions. These guidelines and recommendations are divided into the following sections: Basic Information, Anticipatory Guidance, Family and Home Needs Assessment, Transfer and Coordination of Care, and Other Important Considerations. Each section includes brief introductory comments, followed by the text of the guidelines and recommendations in table format. After each table, there may be further details or descriptions that support a guideline or recommendation. Our goal was to create recommendations that are both general and adaptable while also being specific and actionable. Each NICU's implementation of this guidance will be dependent on the unique makeup and skills of their team, as well as the availability of local programs and resources. The recommendations based only on expert opinion could be topics for future research.

Barriers to Transition to Home From the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Qualitative Perspectives of Parents and Healthcare Providers

The objective of this study was to explore the challenges faced by parents of former neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients in transitioning home from parents' and healthcare providers' perspective. We conducted semistructured individual and group interviews with parents of former NICU patients and healthcare providers. Themes from the individual interviews framed the group interviews' contents. The group interviews were recorded and transcribed, and thematic analysis was performed to identify themes. We conducted individual and group interviews with 16 parents and 33 inpatient and outpatient providers from November 2017 to June 2018. Individual interview participants identified several barriers experienced by parents when transitioning their infant home from the NICU including parental involvement and engagement during NICU stay and during the discharge process. Further exploration within group interviews revealed opportunities to improve discharge communication and processes, standardization of parental education that was lacking due to NICU resource constraints, support for parents' emotional state, and use of technology for infant care in the home. Parents of NICU patients face serious emotional, logistical, and knowledge challenges when transitioning their infant home from the NICU. Understanding and mitigating the challenges of transitioning infants from NICU to home require multistakeholder input from both parents and providers.

Changes in Assessment of and Satisfaction With Discharge Preparation From the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

BACKGROUND

A successful transition from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to home is aided by a comprehensive discharge planning program that keeps families involved and engaged with the discharge preparation process.

PURPOSE

To compare the assessment of parental NICU discharge preparedness with parental satisfaction with the NICU discharge preparation.

METHODS

Families were surveyed 4 to 6 weeks after NICU discharge, and those selecting "very prepared" were considered "satisfied" with their discharge preparation. On discharge day, families were considered "prepared" for discharge based on their overall level of preparedness and their nurse's rating of them on a discharge readiness assessment tool.

RESULTS

In total, 1104 families (60%) reported being both "satisfied" and "prepared"; 293 families (16%) were "satisfied" but not "prepared"; 297 families (16%) were not "satisfied" but were "prepared"; and 134 families (7%) were neither "satisfied" nor "prepared." Compared with families that were both "satisfied" and "prepared," families that were neither "satisfied" nor "prepared" were more likely to be raising the infant alone, of Black race, and to have sicker infants.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Some families are at a higher risk and merit more consideration during NICU discharge planning. Assess the discharge readiness of all families prior to discharge. Those at an increased risk may benefit from more discharge education and training, specifically for single mothers, those with limited resources, or others considered at high risk.

Unplanned postdischarge healthcare utilisation, discharge readiness, and perceived quality of teaching in mothers of neonates hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit: A descriptive and correlational study

BACKGROUND

Discharge teaching has been positively associated with discharge readiness in various care settings and patient types. Association of discharge readiness with unplanned use of health services has not received as much attention in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) population, but has been negatively associated in parents of older children.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of the study was to describe and assess relationships between maternal readiness for neonates' discharge, discharge teaching, and unplanned use of health services after discharge from an NICU.

METHODS

Mothers from an NICU of a tertiary referral hospital in Switzerland completed the "Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale" and the "Quality of Discharge Teaching Scale parental forms" in the 24 h preceding discharge. Telephone interviews evaluating the unplanned use of health services were conducted 28 days after discharge. Simple linear regressions and multiple regressions were used to explore the links between the readiness, perceived quality of discharge, and unplanned use of health services.

RESULTS

Of the 71 participants, 75% (n = 53%) felt ready for discharge when asked directly, and for 60% (n = 42) of them, the amount of discharge teaching received was equal to or higher than that needed, but with high heterogeneity in scores. For 38% of mothers (n = 27), the expected support from the medical care of their child after discharge was deemed insufficient. In the month after discharge, unplanned use of health services occurred in 46% of the participants (n = 32). Perceived quality of teaching positively predicted readiness for discharge (R² = 0.24, p = 0.0004). Unplanned use of health services correlated neither with readiness nor with perceived teaching quality.

CONCLUSIONS

At discharge, mothers felt mostly ready and well prepared to go home. In the month after discharge, almost half used health services in an unplanned manner. Further exploration of reasons leading to this high rate of postdischarge healthcare utilisation is warranted.

Parent Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale: Psychometrics and Association With Postdischarge Outcomes

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study is to validate the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS) for use with parents of hospitalized children. PedRHDS is a structured tool for a discharge readiness assessment before pediatric discharge.

METHODS

Using combined data from four studies with 417 parents, psychometric testing and item reduction proceeded with principal component analysis for factor structure delineation, Cronbach's alpha for reliability estimation, and regression analysis for predictive validity.

RESULTS

A 23-item PedRHDS retained the a priori factor structure. Reliability ranged from 0.73 to 0.85 for the 23-item and 10- and 8-item short scales. PedRHDS (all forms) was associated with postdischarge coping difficulty (explaining 12%-16% of variance) and readmission (odds ratio = 0.71-0.80).

DISCUSSION

The PedRHDS and both short forms (PedRHDS-SF10 and PedRHDS-SF8) are reliable and valid measures of parental discharge readiness that can be used as outcome metrics of hospital care and risk indicators for postdischarge coping difficulty and readmission.

Viewpoints from families for improving transition from NICU-to-home for infants with medical complexity at a safety net hospital: a qualitative study

Background

We have limited information on families’ experiences during transition and after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit.

Methods

Open-ended semi-structured interviews were conducted with English or Spanish- speaking families enrolled in Medicaid in an urban high-risk infant follow up clinic at a safety-net center, which serves preterm and high-risk term infants. We generated salient themes using inductive-deductive thematic analysis.

Results

Twenty-one participants completed the study. The infant’s median (IQR) birth weight was 1750 (1305, 2641) grams; 71% were Hispanic and 10% were Black non-Hispanic; 62% reported living in a neighborhood with 3-4th quartile economic hardship. All were classified as having chronic disease per the Pediatric Medical Complexity Algorithm and 67% had medical complexity. A conceptual model was constructed and the analysis revealed major themes describing families’ challenges and ideas to support transition centered on the parent-child role and parent self-efficacy. The challenges were: (1) comparison to normal babies, (2) caregiver mental health, (3) need for information. Ideas to support transition included, (1) support systems, (2) interventions using mobile health technology (3) improved communication to the primary care provider and (4) information regarding financial assistance programs. Specific subthemes differed in frequency counts between infants with and without medical complexity.

Conclusions

Families often compare their preterm or high-risk infant to their peers and mothers feel great anxiety and stress. However, families often found hope and resilience in peer support and cited that in addition to information needs, interventions using mobile health technology and transition and financial systems could better support families after discharge.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12887-019-1604-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Preparing for Discharge From the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

BACKGROUND

Discharge readiness is a key determinant of outcomes for families in the NICU. Since 2003, using a broad set of outcome and process measures, we have conducted an ongoing quality improvement initiative to improve the discharge preparation process in our NICU and readiness of families being discharged from the NICU.

METHODS

Iterative improvements to the discharge preparation process were made by a multidisciplinary committee. Discharge readiness was measured by using a parental and nurse survey for all families discharged from our NICU. Primary outcome measures included parental self-assessment of discharge readiness and nurse assessment of the family's emotional and technical discharge readiness. Secondary outcome measures included assessment of specific technical skills and emotional factors. Process measures included nursing familiarity with family at discharge. Improvement over time was analyzed by using statistical process control charts.

RESULTS

Significant improvement was seen in all primary outcome measures. Family self-assessment of discharge readiness increased from 85.1% to 89.1%; nurse assessment of the family's emotional discharge readiness increased from 81.2% to 90.5%, and technical discharge readiness increased from 81.4% to 87.7%. Several secondary outcome measures revealed significant improvement, whereas most remained stable. Nurse familiarity with the family at discharge increased over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Quality improvement methodology can be used to measure and improve discharge readiness of families with an infant in the NICU. This model can provide the necessary framework for a structured approach to systematically evaluating and improving the discharge preparation process in a NICU.

Health literacy of parents of very preterm infants at NICU admission and discharge: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of limited health literacy in parents of infants born ≤32 and 0/7 weeks and if health literacy changes during hospitalization.

STUDY DESIGN

Multi-site, prospective cohort study measuring health literacy using the Parent Health Literacy Activities Test, which estimates caregivers' ability to complete tasks such as reading prescription labels and preparing bottles. Data were analyzed using parametric and nonparametric comparison tests and multivariable regression to control for confounders.

RESULT

Of the 137 participants, 31% missed ≥3 questions of 8. Scores were not associated with admission characteristics or NICU complications. Lower scores were associated with lower nurses' (rho 0.20, p = 0.04) but not parents' (rho -0.12, p = 0.22) ratings of discharge readiness. Scores improved slightly from admission to discharge (p = 0.049).

CONCLUSION

Many parents have difficulty answering questions related to basic infant care tasks. NICUs should ensure that communication and discharge planning are mindful of health literacy.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit discharge preparedness among families with limited english proficiency

OBJECTIVE

We compared the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit discharge preparedness of families with and without Limited English Proficiency (LEP).

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a retrospective analysis of discharged families. Each family's discharge preparation was self-assessed on the day of discharge, and the discharging nurse assessed the family's overall emotional and technical discharge preparedness all on 9-point Likert scales. Families were considered not prepared for discharge if they rated themselves or the nurse rated their preparedness as <7 on the Likert scale.

RESULTS

Among 1307 discharged families, 90 had LEP. The odds of being prepared for discharge were the same for both groups (aOR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.27-1.41; p = 0.258). In multivariable analyses, families with LEP were less likely to be prepared with technical baby care skills (aOR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.13-0.81).

CONCLUSION

Families with LEP are at higher risk and may require special attention when preparing for NICU discharge.

Collaboration challenges faced by nurses when premature infants are discharged

AIM

To explore the collaboration challenges faced by neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses and public health nurses when preparing premature infants for transition home and to explore the culture of cooperation between the two professional groups.

METHOD

Qualitative individual interviews were undertaken with two NICU nurses and two public health nurses. A qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data.

FINDINGS

Three main themes were identified: different expectations and lack of communication between NICU nurses and public health nurses; responsibilities and interactions between the two professional groups were not clearly defined; and the public health nurses' competence was not recognised by the NICU nurses and parents.

CONCLUSION

There is a need of clear guidelines about the discharge process from the NICU. This issue must be given further attention.

Effectiveness of the Neonatal Discharge Program for Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants on Parental Efficacy and Psychological Distress

This pilot study aimed to (i) evaluate the effectiveness of a neonatal discharge program, (ii) identify relationships between parent and infant factors and parental efficacy and psychological distress, and (iii) identify ways to improve the neonatal discharge program. A quasiexperimental 1-group pretest/posttest design was used. Through consecutive sampling, 42 participants were recruited. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires. Self-administering instruments gathered data on parental efficacy and psychological distress as well as feedback and recommendations on the intervention. A significant increase in parental efficacy and a reduction in psychological distress were observed from pre- to postdischarge intervention. Significant relationships were found between parental efficacy and infants' gestational age, birth weight, gender, and participants' level of education, and a significant relationship was found between psychological distress and number of children from previous pregnancies. Moreover, an Internet-based program, in addition to the face-to-face teaching, was identified as a preferred option to aid in information retention. It is important to evaluate and enhance the neonatal discharge program to suit the parents of today while providing them with informational and emotional support. Future studies should explore parental coping and the long-term effects of their infant's birth and the intervention.

Perspectives of Low Socioeconomic Status Mothers of Premature Infants

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Transitioning premature infants from the NICU to home is a high-risk period with potential for compromised care. Parental stress is high, and families of low socioeconomic status may face additional challenges. Home visiting programs have been used to help this transition, with mixed success. We sought to understand the experiences of at-risk families during this transition to inform interventions.

METHODS

Mothers of infants born at <35 weeks' gestation, meeting low socioeconomic status criteria, were interviewed by telephone 30 days after discharge to assess caregiver experiences of discharge and perceptions of home visitors (HVs). We generated salient themes by using grounded theory and the constant comparative method. Interviews were conducted until thematic saturation was achieved.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven mothers completed interviews. Eighty-five percent were black, and 81% had Medicaid insurance. Concern about infants' health and fragility was the primary theme identified, with mothers reporting substantial stress going from a highly monitored NICU to an unmonitored home. Issues with trust and informational consistency were mentioned frequently and could threaten mothers' willingness to engage with providers. Strong family networks and determination compensated for limited economic resources, although many felt isolated. Mothers appreciated HVs' ability to address infant health but preferred nurses over lay health workers.

CONCLUSIONS

Low-income mothers experience significant anxiety about the transition from the NICU to home. Families value HVs who are trustworthy and have relevant medical knowledge about prematurity. Interventions to improve transition would benefit by incorporating parental input and facilitating trust and consistency in communication.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale-Parent Form in parents of preterm infants

Background

The Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS)−Parent Form shows satisfactory reliability and validity to assess the readiness of parents to take care of their children discharged from hospitals in Western countries. However, the reliability and validity of this instrument has not been evaluated in Chinese populations.

Objectives

Evaluate the psychometric features of the RHDS−Parent Form among Chinese parents of preterm infants.

Methods

The RHDS−Parent Form was translated into a Chinese version following an international instrument translation guideline. A total of 168 parents with preterm infants were recruited from the neonatal intensive care units of two tertiary-level hospitals in China. The internal consistency of this measure was assessed using the Cronbach's α coefficient; confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to evaluate the construct validity; and Pearson correlation coefficient was used to report the convergent validity.

Results

The Chinese version of RHDS (C-RHDS)−Parent Form included 22 items with 4 subscales, accounting for 56.71% of the total variance. The C-RHDS−Parent Form and its subscales showed good reliability (Cronbach's α values 0.78–0.92). This measure and its subscales showed positive correlations with the score of Quality of Discharge Teaching Scale.

Conclusion

The factor structure of C-RHDS−Parent Form is partially consistent with the original English version. Future studies are needed to explore the factors within this measure before it is widely used in Chinese clinical care settings.

Rehospitalization of preterm infants according to the discharge risk level

PURPOSE

The rehospitalization rate of preterm infants is between 22 and 52% within the first year after discharge. The purpose of this study was to investigate the rehospitalization of preterm infants within 2 months following discharge, considering the level of risks originating from the infant, parents, and the social factors.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The sample was composed of 238 preterm infants and their parents. The data were collected with a Descriptive Information Form, the Post-Discharge Infant Follow-up Form, and the Neonatal Discharge Assessment Tool (N-DAT). Before discharge, the preterm infants were evaluated in terms of risky discharge via N-DAT consisting of the subscales Medical, Competencies, Risk factors, Resources, and Parenting. Discharge was determined as low, moderate, and high risk according to N-DAT total score. Two months after the discharge, rehospitalization of the infants was assessed. The data were evaluated via chi-square, Mann-Whitney U-test, and Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

In the study, 39.9% of the preterm infants were rehospitalized within the 8 weeks following the discharge, with medical and/or surgical reasons. Medical problems such as pneumonia and acute bronchiolitis were ranked as the first cause for rehospitalization. As expected, according to the N-DAT scores, the rates of rehospitalization of infants who had been discharged with intermediate and high risk levels were found to be higher (p < .001) than the rates of those with low risk levels. Also, N-DAT Medical, Competencies, Risk factors, Resources, and Parenting subscale scores of the infants who were rehospitalized with medical problems were found to be higher at a statistically significant level than infants who were not rehospitalized (p < .001).

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Nurses can help to minimize rehospitalization of infants by parental education, telephonic counseling, frequent observation, and home care support.

Parents experiences of discharge readiness from a Swedish neonatal intensive care unit

Aim

The aim of this study was to describe how parents experienced the support at, and preparation for discharge from, the NICU and how they experienced the first time at home.

Design

A qualitative design with quantitative elements was applied.

Methods

A questionnaire study. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis with quantitative elements.

Results

The majority of included parents felt adequately prepared for going home and sufficiently supported during the first period home. Negative experiences were related to lack of time for preparation, lack of support and information, especially about the infant's food intake, breastfeeding, and tube feeding, and lack of follow‐up counselling post discharge. This study supports that parents who are closely involved in their infant's care at the NICU, and who stay with the infant at the NICU around the clock, are well prepared for the transition to home.

Paternal and Maternal Testosterone in Parents of NICU Infants Transitioning Home

Lower testosterone during the transition to new parenthood is considered beneficial to help parents better engage with their infants. No data currently exist studying salivary testosterone of parents with infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) during the transition to home. We examine testosterone levels for parents of very low-birth-weight infants, including links between salivary testosterone and infant factors (such as breast-feeding), psychosocial stress, and changes over time.Testosterone salivary samples were assayed after self-collection by 86 parents (43 fathers and 43 mothers) with NICU infants at wakeup and bedtime prior to discharge and at 3 additional times at home. Self-reported survey measures, including psychosocial reports, were also collected at these times.Using multilevel modeling approaches, we report significant associations between paternal testosterone by time and psychosocial adjustment and between both paternal and maternal testosterone and infant feeding mode (P < .05). Results were significant after accounting for covariates. Our study is the first to examine the time course of diurnal testosterone for parents of premature infants over the transition home; as such, we suggest further research into better understanding parental physiology in this vulnerable parent population.

Rationing of nursing care interventions and its association with nurse-reported outcomes in the neonatal intensive care unit: a cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Evidence internationally suggests that staffing constraints and non-supportive work environments result in the rationing of nursing interventions (that is, limiting or omitting interventions for particular patients), which in turn may influence patient outcomes. In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), preliminary studies have found that discharge preparation and infant comfort care are among the most frequently rationed nursing interventions. However, it is unknown if the rationing of discharge preparation is related to lower perceptions of parent and infant readiness for NICU discharge, and if reports of increased rationing of infant comfort care are related to lower levels of perceived neonatal pain control. The purpose of this study was to assess these relationships.

METHODS

In late 2014, a cross-sectional survey was mailed to 285 Registered Nurses (RNs) working in one of 7 NICUs in the province of Quebec (Canada). The survey contained validated measures of care rationing, parent and infant readiness for discharge, and pain control, as well as items measuring RNs' characteristics. Multivariate regression was used to examine the association between care rationing, readiness for discharge and pain control, while adjusting for RNs' characteristics and clustering within NICUs.

RESULTS

Overall, 125 RNs completed the survey; a 44.0 % response rate. Among the respondents, 28.0 and 40.0 % reported rationing discharge preparation and infant comfort care "often" or "very often", respectively. Additionally, 15.2 % of respondents felt parents and infants were underprepared for NICU discharge, and 54.4 % felt that pain was not well managed on their unit. In multivariate analyses, the rationing of discharge preparation was negatively related to RNs' perceptions of parent and infant readiness for discharge, while reports of rationing of parental support and teaching and infant comfort care were associated with less favourable perceptions of neonatal pain control.

CONCLUSIONS

The rationing of nursing interventions appears to influence parent and infant readiness for discharge, as well as pain control in NICUs. Future investigations, in neonatal nursing care as well as in other nursing specialties, should address objectively measured patient outcomes (such as objective pain assessments and post-discharge outcomes assessed through administrative data).

Supporting Parents of Premature Infants Transitioning from the NICU to Home: A Pilot Randomized Control Trial of a Smartphone Application

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether parents of Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) transitioning home with the NICU-2-Home smartphone application have greater parenting self-efficacy, are better prepared for discharge and have shorter length of stay (LOS) than control parents.

METHODS

A four-week pilot randomized controlled trial during the transition home with 90 VLBW parents randomized to usual care (n=44) or usual care plus NICU-2-Home (n=46), a smartphone application designed for VLBW parents. Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC) was assessed at baseline, day after discharge, and two weeks post-discharge. Preparedness for discharge and length of stay (LOS) were secondary outcomes. Analyses by usage were also included.

RESULTS

While parents of VLBW infants in the intervention group did not show an improvement in PSOC during the transition when compared directly to controls, after accounting for actual mean app usage, PSOC improved 7% (2.71 points/time greater; 95%CI = 1.45, 6.27) for intervention versus controls. Compared to controls, above-average users increased their PSOC score by 14% (6.84 points/time; 95%CL = 5.02, 8.67), average users by 11% (4.58 points/time; 95%CL = 2.89, 6.27) and below-average users by 6% (2.41 points/time; 95%CL = 0.04, 4.79). Moderate evidence showed LOS was shorter for above-average users compared to the control group (β = 12.2. SE = 6.9, p = 0.085).

CONCLUSION

A smartphone application used by parents of VLBW infants during the transition home from the NICU can improve parenting self-efficacy, discharge preparedness, and LOS with improved benefits based on usage.

Validity and reliability of the Neonatal Discharge Assessment Tool

PURPOSE

To investigate the reliability and validity of the Neonatal Discharge Assessment Tool (N-DAT) designed to assess risk factors related to infants' and parents' readiness for discharge to home.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The sample was composed of 238 high-risk preterm infants, born at gestational age of 24 to 37 weeks, and their parents. High scores on the N-DAT indicated higher risk for discharge of preterm infants and their parents. Psychometric analyses of the N-DAT included content validity, internal consistency reliability, and construct validity.

RESULTS

Content validity of the N-DAT items was supported by experts (content validity index = .98). Internal consistency reliability was supported by a Cronbach's alpha for the total instrument of .94. N-DAT total and subscale score correlations ranged from .42 to .89. Known-groups analysis indicated that infants born at <31 weeks' gestation and infants who were rehospitalized during 8 weeks after discharge had significantly higher N-DAT total and subscale scores than infants born at ≥31 weeks or not rehospitalized. Also, mothers who reported experiencing problems with infant care at home had significantly higher N-DAT Competencies subscale scores than mothers who did not report problems.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The N-DAT is a reliable and valid instrument to evaluate the risks related to discharge of preterm infants so that nurses can provide parents with the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources they need prior to discharge.

Predictors of caregiver satisfaction with visiting nurse home visits after NICU discharge

OBJECTIVE

High-risk infants are commonly referred to Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) agencies for post-hospitalization services after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Little is known about the effectiveness and perceived benefits of routine VNA services for these infants. The objective of this study was to identify factors predictive of family satisfaction with VNA services after NICU discharge.

STUDY DESIGN

This is an observational study using data collected from routine quality assurance phone calls to families after NICU discharge. The setting is a single NICU at a large, urban academic medical center in Boston, MA, USA. We included all hospitalized infants discharged from the NICU from 1 January 2008 to 31 July 2014. Predictors included markers of infant biological and social risk and a survey measure of parent and nurse perceptions of parents' preparedness at discharge. The outcome was parent response to the question, 'Did you find the VNA visit helpful?' at 2 weeks post discharge.

RESULTS

Bivariate analyses showed perceived helpfulness of VNA visits associated with low maternal parity, lower 1-min Apgar score, lower birth weight and gestational age, diagnosis of respiratory distress syndrome and intraventricular hemorrhage and low discharge readiness scores. Only low maternal parity (odds ratio (OR) 1.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.35, 2.46) and birth <35 weeks' gestation (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.15, 1.83) were significant predictors in multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Low maternal parity and gestational age <35 weeks predicted parent satisfaction with VNA services. Referral for VNA services is common after NICU discharge. There are currently no guidelines indicating which infants and families stand to benefit most from such services. Our findings may help in developing and streamlining processes for post-hospitalization VNA service referrals for high-risk infants.

Effect of an educational intervention on parental readiness for premature infant discharge from the neonatal intensive care units

AIM

To examine the effect of an educational intervention on parental readiness for premature infant discharge from neonatal intensive care units.

BACKGROUND

Low readiness for discharge can result in negative healthcare outcomes for infants and their parents. However, few studies have examined the effect of discharge education programmes on parental readiness for premature infant discharge in Chinese critical care settings.

DESIGN

A quasi-experimental study.

METHODS

Between October 2011-March 2012, 154 parents of premature infants were recruited from neonatal intensive care units of two tertiary hospitals in Central China. These parents were assigned to either the intervention or control group based on their entry order. Parents in the intervention group received two sessions of 60-minute discharge education along with hospital routine care; parents in the control group only received hospital routine care. Parental readiness for discharge and quality of discharge education were assessed on the day of infant discharge from neonatal intensive care units. Independent samples t-test and linear regression were used to analyse the data.

RESULTS

Parental readiness for premature infant discharge was in the moderate level. Independent samples t-test showed that both mean scores of parental discharge readiness and discharge teaching quality from the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Linear regression analysis showed that discharge teaching quality explained 39·7% of the variance in parental readiness for premature infant discharge.

CONCLUSION

Discharge education can improve parental readiness for premature infant discharge. Quality of discharge teaching can significantly predict parental readiness for premature infant discharge.

The effectiveness of family-centered transition processes from hospital settings to home: a review of the literature

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The quality of care transitions is of growing concern because of a high incidence of postdischarge adverse events, poor communication with patients, and inadequate information transfer between providers. The objective of this study was to conduct a targeted literature review of studies examining the effectiveness of family-centered transition processes from hospital- and emergency department (ED)-to-home for improving patient health outcomes and health care utilization.

METHODS

We conducted an electronic search (2001-2012) of PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, PsycInfo, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Included were experimental studies of hospital and ED-to-home transition interventions in pediatric and adult populations meeting the following inclusion criteria: studies evaluating hospital or ED-to-home transition interventions, study interventions involving patients/families, studies measuring outcomes≤30 days after discharge, and US studies. Transition processes, principal outcome measures (patient health outcomes and health care utilization), and assessment time-frames were extracted for each study.

RESULTS

The search yielded 3458 articles, and 16 clinical trials met final inclusion criteria. Four studies evaluated pediatric ED-to-home transitions and indicated family-tailored discharge education was associated with better patient health outcomes. Remaining trials evaluating adult hospital-to-home transitions indicated a transition needs assessment or provision of an individualized transition record was associated with better patient health outcomes and reductions in health care utilization. The effectiveness of postdischarge telephone follow-up and/or home visits on health care utilization showed mixed results.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient-tailored discharge education is associated with improved patient health outcomes in pediatric ED patients. Effective transition processes identified in the adult literature may inform future quality improvement research regarding pediatric hospital-to-home transitions.

The effect of empowerment program on "perceived readiness for discharge" of mothers of premature infants

OBJECTIVES

Poor readiness of mothers to take care of their premature infant at the time of hospital discharge is associated with potential adverse consequences. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of empowerment program on "perceived readiness for discharge" of mothers of premature infants at the time of discharge.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental before-after study design with consecutive inclusion of all mother-child pairs was used to conduct the study. Eighty mothers and their premature infants (40 pairs of mother-infant in the experimental group and 40 pairs of mother-infant in the control group) were recruited in the study. The program to empower the parents was implemented as a 3-stage training plan for the experimental group. "Parent discharge readiness" questionnaire was completed by mothers before intervention and at discharge time, and was evaluated by nurses at discharge time. The groups were compared in terms of readiness for discharge according to the scores given by mothers and nurses.

RESULTS

At discharge time, there was a statistically significant difference between technical readiness of control and experimental groups according to mothers' self-report (p < 0.001) and nurse evaluation (p < 0.0001). Also, there was a statistically significant difference between emotional readiness of mothers in control and experimental groups according to mothers' self-report (p < 0.0001) and nurse evaluation (p = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

The implementation of empowerment program is an effective strategy to promote the readiness of mothers of premature infants at discharge time.

Paternal and maternal concerns for their very low-birth-weight infants transitioning from the NICU to home

This study examines qualitatively the concerns and coping mechanisms of fathers and mothers of very low-birth-weight (VLBW; <1500 g) neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) infants as they transition to home from the NICU. In-depth, semistructured phone interviews were conducted with a sample of fathers and mothers of VLBW NICU infants in the Chicago area who had transitioned home, and parental concerns were examined during the transition to home. Phone interviews lasting 30 to 60 minutes were transcribed verbatim, and all interviews were coded using content and narrative analysis. Twenty-five parents (10 fathers, 15 mothers) of 16 VLBW infants who had an average gestational age of 29.5 weeks and an average NICU stay of 58.38 days completed the interview. Overriding concerns included pervasive uncertainty, lingering medical concerns, and partner-related adjustment concerns that differed by gender. A variety of resilient coping methods during this stressful transition are also described. Fathers and mothers of VLBW NICU graduates have evolving but often differing concerns as they transition from the NICU to home. Many of these concerns can be addressed with improved discharge information exchanges and anticipatory guidance. Supporting parents during this stressful and often difficult transition may lead to decreased family stress, improved care, and better infant outcomes.

Discharge summary for medically complex infants transitioning to primary care

Improvements in the care of the premature infant and advancements in technology are increasing life expectancy of infants with medical conditions once considered lethal; these infants are at risk of becoming a medically complex infant. Complex infants have a significant existing problem list, are on several medications, and receive medical care by several specialists. Deficits in communication and information transfer at the time of discharge remain problematic for this population. A questionnaire was developed for primary care providers (PCPs) to explore the effectiveness of the current discharge summary because it is related to effective communication when assuming the care of a new patient with medical complexity. PCPs assuming the care of these infants agree that an evidence-based tool, in the form of a specialized summary for this population, would be of value.

Mothers' experiences of infants discharge in Iranian NICU culture: a qualitative study

PURPOSE

This study examined mothers' experiences of the preparation of their infants for discharge in the Iranian neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) culture.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING

Participants included 16 mothers who had preterm infants who were hospitalized in Iranian NICUs.

DESIGN

A qualitative study was used to describe mothers' experiences of infant discharge from the NICU.

METHODS

Data collection was done by interviewing mothers who were in NICUs of Iranian University Hospitals. The qualitative data analysis package was used for coding and categorizing.

RESULTS

Four themes were identified: learning from multiple sources, conditional discharge, enabled mother, and continued nightmares.

CONCLUSION

This study highlighted several issues regarding mothers' experiences of infants' discharge plan. Nurses should be aware of these themes to support the mothers during preparation of their infants for discharge from NICUs.

How well do mothers in Ghana understand why their newborn is hospitalized?

BACKGROUND

Maternal knowledge about serious infant illnesses has significant implications for care after discharge, particularly in countries with high infant mortality rates. No existing studies on this topic in low-income countries were identified. The study sought to identify the level of maternal understanding about why a newborn was hospitalized and how mothers in Ghana attributed blame for the illness.

METHODS

The project team conducted semi-structured interviews with mothers aged 18 and older who had infants hospitalized in a tertiary care facility in Kumasi, Ghana, and collected data on demographics, pregnancy and delivery, and beliefs about their infant's illness. Infant charts were abstracted to identify medical reasons for hospitalization for comparison with the mother's understanding, and levels of understanding were coded as 'none', 'partial' or 'full'.

RESULTS

153 mothers were interviewed and their average age was 28. For 27%, this was their first pregnancy. Forty per cent of mothers had no understanding of why their infant was in the hospital and 28% had only partial understanding. One-third of the women reported blaming themselves for the child's illness. In multivariable analysis, demographic factors including maternal age, education, primiparous status, and urban vs rural residence did not predict maternal understanding or self-blame.

CONCLUSIONS

Sick newborns in low-income countries are at very high risk of adverse outcomes. Mothers who lack a clear understanding of why their infant is in the hospital might have difficulty communicating preferences about care, understanding the type of care that is being given, and recognizing future warning signs of illness. Such gaps in understanding could put the discharged infant at significant risk.

Neonatal intensive care unit discharge preparation, family readiness and infant outcomes: connecting the dots

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) discharge readiness is defined as the masterful attainment of technical skills and knowledge, emotional comfort, and confidence with infant care by the primary caregivers at the time of discharge. NICU discharge preparation is the process of facilitating comfort and confidence as well as the acquisition of knowledge and skills to successfully make the transition from the NICU to home. In this paper, we first review the literature about discharge readiness as it relates to the NICU population. Understanding that discharge readiness is achieved, in part, through successful discharge preparation, we then outline an approach to NICU discharge preparation.

Hospital-based emergency preparedness: evacuation of the neonatal intensive care unit-the smallest and most vulnerable population

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to report an experience with a full-scale neonatal intensive care unit evacuation exercise.

METHODS

This was a retrospective review of lessons learned from a full-scale evacuation exercise following a simulated catastrophe. Thirty-four realistically simulated neonatal intensive care unit infants (including 12 infants who required respiratory support and 3 with very complex medical issues) were horizontally evacuated emergently to limit immediate danger, followed by a vertical evacuation down several flights of stairs to a temporary holding area. The infants were then set up for transport for ongoing care to other regional hospitals. As with a real emergency, the drill involved the hospital incident management resources plus external partners (e.g., police, public health, and fire departments).

RESULTS

We found that effective and constant communication was critical. Essential health care personnel resources included (1) staff to physically transport patients, (2) a central communication/coordinating site, and (3) on-site triage in the holding areas. Because it is impossible to anticipate every eventuality, flexibility and creativity are essential in disaster management. Adult tracking forms, equipment, and emergency procedures were nontransferable and often inappropriate for infants.

CONCLUSIONS

When a disaster occurs, hospital clinical staff, emergency management, and administrators may help avoid unnecessarily high morbidity and mortality among the smallest and most vulnerable patients by developing and practicing contingency plans. We learned what our rate-limiting steps are and how we would mitigate these.