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Sheila Kun, RN, MS; David Warburton, BSc, MB, MRCP

Am J Dis Child. 1987;141(8):888-892.

Abstract
• Medical technology is enabling many high-risk infants and toddlers to be cared for at home. However, techniques for evaluation of home-care and discharge-planning outcomes have not been well documented. Using 60 subjects, we performed telephone assessment of home-care givers' knowledge base in basic knowledge of treatment, operation and maintenance of supplies and equipment, and vendor Information, using standard questions, 48 hours following discharge from the hospital. Families giving apnea monitoring or Broviac catheter care as a single treatment scored 100% in all three areas. However, the scores for care givers providing gastrostomy care (54%, 100%, and 91%), tracheostomy care (80%, 70%, and 50%), or total parenteral nutrition (88%, 50%, and 100%) as single treatments were lower. Care givers providing multiple home-care treatments had the lowest scores (65%, 65%, and 76%). However, care givers of patients who were subsequently readmitted scored well (80%, 85%, and 85%), and none of the readmissions were due to a failure of home-care management. Telephone assessment 48 hours after discharge can be used to document home-care and discharge-planning outcomes for highrisk infants and toddlers.

(AJDC 1987;141:888-892)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Nursing (Ms Kun) and the Division of Neonatology and Pediatric Pulmonology, Department of Pediatrics (Dr Warburton), Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Jan 27, 1987.

Reprint requests to Division of Neonatology and Pediatric Pulmonology, Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027 (Dr Warburton).

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