Abstract
Aim: A current study aimed to describe recent discharge planning activities of low birth weight (LBW) infants in one referral hospital in Jakarta. Method: A qualitative approach was used, using data triangulation: focus group discussions with five nurses and eight parents of hospitalised infants; direct observation; and documentation analysis. Findings: Findings from nurses' data highlighted four critical variables in discharge planning activities: limited human resources; mothers' concerns; infants' rehospitalisation; and inconsistent health education. Parents identified three issues: lack of structured educational programmes; difficulties in getting information; and topics needed by parents. Direct observation and document analysis demonstrated that discharge planning activities were mostly conducted on the discharge day. Conclusion: Discharge planning at this hospital was presently inadequate from the nurses' and parents of hospitalised LBW infants' perspectives. This phenomenon could be a general description of other Indonesian hospitals since the setting was a referral hospital. Changes are really needed to improve the situation. Implications for clinical practice: Inadequate discharge planning programmes may influence the health status of LBW infants discharged from the hospital who require appropriate care from their parent at home. A structured discharge planning programme urgently needed in the hospital.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2-6 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Neonatal, Paediatric and Child Health Nursing |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2016 |
Keywords
- Discharge planning
- Indonesia
- Low birth weight
- Rehospitalisation
