BACKGROUND: Due to decreased hospital stay, follow-up of unresolved medical problems of babies with uncomplicated postpartum course is relegated to outpatient clinics. OBJECTIVE: To identify factors in discharge letters that influence parent compliance. METHODS: Telephone contact with parents three months after discharge queried compliance with routine and special instructions as written in discharge letters. Statistical analyses compared responses of compliant versus less compliant parents. P<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. The present study was approved by the Institutional Ethical Review Board Committee. RESULTS: Of the 2000 discharge letters, 319 (16%) included special instructions. Parents of 252 infants (79%) who received discharge letters containing 332 special instructions were interviewed by telephone. Compliance was greater for noninvasive instructions (86%) relative to others (57.8%) (P<0.001). Initiation of follow-up visits was correlated with parity (P<0.001) and maternal age (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Discharge letters should be read and discussed with parents before infants are discharged, and the relevance of specific medical instructions should be emphasized.
BACKGROUND: Due to decreased hospital stay, follow-up of unresolved medical problems of babies with uncomplicated postpartum course is relegated to outpatient clinics. OBJECTIVE: To identify factors in discharge letters that influence parent compliance. METHODS: Telephone contact with parents three months after discharge queried compliance with routine and special instructions as written in discharge letters. Statistical analyses compared responses of compliant versus less compliant parents. P<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. The present study was approved by the Institutional Ethical Review Board Committee. RESULTS: Of the 2000 discharge letters, 319 (16%) included special instructions. Parents of 252 infants (79%) who received discharge letters containing 332 special instructions were interviewed by telephone. Compliance was greater for noninvasive instructions (86%) relative to others (57.8%) (P<0.001). Initiation of follow-up visits was correlated with parity (P<0.001) and maternal age (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Discharge letters should be read and discussed with parents before infants are discharged, and the relevance of specific medical instructions should be emphasized.
Entities:
Keywords:
Discharge; Follow-up study; Health care survey; Health information; Newborn
Authors: Henry H Bernstein; Cathie Spino; Stacia Finch; Richard Wasserman; Eric Slora; Christina Lalama; Carol Litten Touloukian; Harris Lilienfeld; Marie C McCormick Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2007-07-16 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Antoine Tran; Anne-Laure Hérissé; Marion Isoardo; Petri Valo; Anne-Marie Maillotte; Hervé Haas; Dominique Donzeau; Emma Freyssinet; Christian Pradier; Stéphanie Gentile Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2022-01-06 Impact factor: 2.692