Authors (including presenting author) :
Lam WK, Lau HE, Kwok WY, Liong MT, Leung TK
Affiliation :
Department of Paediatrics, Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Introduction :
Families of premature infants navigate an unfamiliar and complex medical environment during their neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) journey. As discharge approaches, parents often express anxiety about caring for their baby without the support of NICU staff and monitoring equipment. The transition from NICU to home presents significant challenges, making comprehensive pre-discharge education essential for equipping parents with the knowledge and skills needed for safe home care. This study evaluates the effectiveness and parental satisfaction of a structured pre-discharge education program implemented in our NICU over a 10-year period.
Objectives :
To assess the effectiveness and parental satisfaction of a structured 1.5-hour pre-discharge education program for parents of preterm infants (< 34weeks gestation) from 2015-2024, and to identify opportunities for program enhancement based on participant feedback.
Methodology :
This retrospective study analyzed feedback collected from parents of eligible preterm infants (< 34weeks gestation) from mid-2015 to 2024. The program encompassed eight key components: general observation, infection prevention, breastfeeding, bottle feeding, bathing, home preparation, home safety, and medication administration. Parents who attended the pre-discharge education program completed voluntary questionnaires before discharge, using a 5-point Likert scale (1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree). From 1,245 eligible admissions, 789 questionnaires were analyzed (response rate 63.4%).
Result & Outcome :
The program demonstrated consistently high satisfaction ratings, with parents particularly valuing program accessibility (4.7/5) and knowledge enhancement (4.7/5). The three most beneficial topics identified were general observation, breastfeeding, and infection prevention. Post-program evaluation showed increased parental confidence in home care preparation (4.2/5), daily care provision (4.4/5), and infant condition monitoring (4.2/5). Program effectiveness was demonstrated through high scores in content comprehension (4.7/5) and topics relevance (4.7/5). Participant’s feedback suggested incorporating additional topics, including emergency care and first aid training, hands-on practical sessions and maternal well-being support.
This decade-long evaluation confirms the program's sustained effectiveness in enhancing parental readiness for preterm infant care. High satisfaction scores across multiple domains validate both the program's structure and delivery method. While these findings demonstrate success in building parental confidence, they also identify opportunities for curriculum expansion. Future program enhancement will incorporate components to address parents' expressed needs, further strengthening this family-centered discharge preparation initiative.
