Parental readiness for hospital discharge and the relationship with growth and development of infant in China

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the associations between parental readiness for discharge and neonatal growth.

Design and methods: This cross-sectional study included 549 newborns whose parents filled out the Newborn-Parental Readiness for Discharge Scale (N-PRDS).Additionally, data on birth weight, length, and head circumference were collected.The total N-PRDS scores were divided into three levels in terms of readiness: low, intermediate, and high readiness. Parents and infants were followed up 42 days after the birth, and the weight, length, and head circumference of the newborns were measured at the hospital.

Results: A total of 306 data were obtained. The generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) showed that time and parental readiness had an interaction effect on the weight, length and head circumference of infants. The difference in weight between infants under the high and low readiness conditions at 42 days increased by 0.357 kg compared to the difference at birth. The difference in length between high readiness infants and low readiness infants at 42 days increased by 2.155 cm compared to the difference at birth. The difference between the infants' head circumference under the high and low readiness conditions at 42 days was 0.873 cm higher than that at birth.

Conclusions: High readiness for discharge could promote an increase in infant weight, length,and head circumference at 42 days after birth.

Practice implications: Nurses should assess parental readiness prior to the discharge of newborns by using the N-PRDS and provide discharge guidance and education to newborns' parents based on the outcomes of this scale.

Keywords: Growth and development; Newborn care; Newborns; Parents; Readiness for discharge.