Abstract
Objectives
The following are the objectives of this study: (1) Assess the feasibility and acceptability of emailing parent-reported measures of infant health and development after NICU discharge. (2) Examine whether post-discharge questionnaire data helps identify infants most likely to benefit from specialized follow-up care.
Study design
Parents of 51 infants <32 weeks’ gestation received email questionnaires at 44 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) and 6 months corrected age (CA). Adverse infant outcomes were assessed in-person at 6 months: (1) Bayley-III cognitive or motor score <85; (2) weight, length, or head circumference <10th percentile; (3) new referral for medical or developmental services.
Results
Questionnaire response was 48 (94%) at 44 weeks PMA and 46 (90%) at 6 months CA. 36 (70%) infants were assessed at 6 months; 72% had at least 1 adverse outcome. Poorer transition home, feeding problems, and special health care needs at 44 weeks PMA predicted adverse outcomes. Feeding problems, maternal depression, and lower infant health-related quality of life at 6 months CA correlated with adverse outcomes.
Conclusions
Emailed questionnaires after NICU discharge were feasible to implement and acceptable to families. Repeated post-discharge assessments may help identify infants at heightened health and developmental risk.
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Funding
This study was funded by a grant from the Center for Patient Safety and Quality Research and by the Division of Newborn Medicine, both at Boston Children’s Hospital.
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Litt, J.S., Agni, M., Jacobi-Polishook, T. et al. The acceptability and feasibility of emailed parent questionnaires for medical and developmental surveillance after NICU discharge. J Perinatol 38, 392–401 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-017-0022-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-017-0022-6
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