Care by parents in hospital.

Abstract

admitted to the paediatric ward, representing 3-8% (17/439) of the infants under 1 year but 12% of the bed occupancy. Infants who had previously been in the neonatal intensive care unit accounted for a large proportion of the bed occupancy partly because they stayed in the ward longer for general problems (such as upper respiratory infections and social and feeding difficulties) than the other infants (table) and partly because a small number needed prolonged admissions for intensive treatment of chronic conditions-for example, one infant with chronic lung disease needed ventilation for five months and another required many months of intravenous feeding after extensive bowel resection in the neonatal period. Comment Although only a small number of infants who had previously received intensive care required admission to the paediatric ward, they represented about half the bed occupancy of infants under 1 year. Interestingly, although the paediatric ward served only the Cambridge Area Health Authority, babies admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit from the region accounted for about one third of the bed occupancy of those aged under 1 year. This study highlights the need for continued intensive nursing care for a few infants under 1 year after their discharge from a neonatal intensive care unit. This represents a considerable workload for a general ward, and as the survival rates of such infants continue to improve4 it is vital that these wards should be appropriately staffed and equipped.

016–Congruency Between Parents' Actual and Desired Participation in the Care of Their Hospitalized Child.

“…Parents in the current study were active participants in care related to their child's ADL. This finding supports results of previous studies which identified parents' active participation in their children's ADL care (Algren, 1985;Balling, & McCubbin, 2001;Hill, 1978;Jackson et al, 1978;Kristensson-Hallstrom & Elander, 1994;MacDonald, 1969;Merrow & Johnson, 1968;Neill, 1996a;Webb et al, 1985). Four ADL activities were rated highly on both the Actual and Desired scales respectively: Helped with elimination (90.…”

“…In earlier studies, parents have reported providing more care than they desired due to their perception that it was expected of them by the nursing staff This distribution is also reflected in the IPP/HC-D, as "Spending quiet time interacting with the child" and "Comforting the child when upset" were also the most frequently reported Desired activities by parents (95.8% and 94.8% respectively). Earlier research has indicated that providing comfort is a priority for parents of hospitalized children (Algren, 1985;Dearmun, 1992;Hill, 1978;Jackson, Bradham, & Burwell, 1978;Kristensson-Hallstrom,& Elander, 1994;MacDonald, 1969;Merrow & Johnson, 1968;Coyne, 1995;Webb et al, 1985).…”

“…For example, with regard to dressing changes, Kristensson-Hallstrom and Elander (1994) reported that 15% of parents did this procedure while 62% felt they could have done it. Webb et al(1985) found that 43% of parents either did or felt they could do a dressing change, while Hill identified that 38% of mothers wanted to do this care. The proportion of parents who were willing to give oral medication ranged from 60% in Algren's (1985)study to 89% in Hill's study.…”

“…Several researchers have used checklists of child care activities to identify activities parents participate in or in which they would like to participate (Algren, 1985;Blower, & Morgan, 2000;Hill, 1978;Jackson, Bradham, & Burwell, 1978;Kristensson-Hallstrom, & Elander, 1994;Merrow, & Johnson, 1968;Webb, Hull, & Madeley, 1985).…”

“…Algren (1985) adapted her tool from Merrow and Johnson's list, but did not specify the nature of the adaptations or why she felt they were necessary. Webb et al (1985) used a list of 31 nursing procedures that they stated was compiled by the General Nursing…”