Neonatologist at the Well-Child Clinic: A high-risk infant follow-up pilot study

Objective High-risk infant follow-up (HRIF) is a complex process lacking standardization. We present a simple, single-provider model that proves effective and is well received by caregivers. Study Design In this study we measured caregiver use and satisfaction with high-risk infant follow-up visit attended by an experienced neonatologist in a well-care setting, soon after discharge. Results One hundred parents participated in the survey. 78% of infants were seen in the first 3 months of life and 39% within one month of discharge. Nutrition (98%) and development (97%) were the most commonly discussed topics, followed by general health (95%), iron supplementation (93%), and head size (90%). Using a Likert scale of 1-5, with 5 being the highest rating, parents responded that the meeting answered their questions (4.7, n=93), made order of the infant’s needs (4.6, n=90) and increased their confidence in caring for their infants (4.65, n=92). Conclusion HRIF with an experienced neonatologist is an effective means of increasing parents’ understanding of their infants’ medical needs and confidence in caring for their infants.

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 28. November 2023

Angenommen nach Revision: 15. Mai 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
16. Mai 2024