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Parental Perception of Care for Infants With Fever During Hospitalization
Jessica Hayes1, Sarah Vepraskas2
1Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
Insights
Parents understand why their infants are hospitalized for fever and the expected length of stay. Many families prefer overnight discharge, informing shared decision-making with healthcare providers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric hospital medicine
- Patient-centered care
Background:
- Infant hospitalization for fever without source is common.
- Parental understanding of admission rationale and discharge timing is crucial for care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate parental perceptions of infant hospitalization reasons and duration.
- To explore family preferences for infant discharge timing.
Main Methods:
- Structured interviews with parents of infants (7-60 days) evaluated for fever without source.
- Data collected over a 6-month period from parents of noncomplex, well-appearing infants.
Main Results:
- Parents understood fever necessitates admission for diagnostic evaluation.
- Parents anticipated a maximum 48-hour stay if bacterial cultures were negative.
- Over one-third of families expressed a preference for overnight discharge.
Conclusions:
- Parents grasp the reasons for and expected length of infant hospitalizations.
- Discharge timing preferences can initiate shared decision-making discussions between parents and healthcare providers.
Objective:
To assess parental perceptions regarding reason for and length of their infant's hospitalization and to understand family preferences for time of discharge.
Methods:
Participants included parents of infants who were noncomplex, well-appearing infants, aged 7 to 60 days, and evaluated for fever without a source. A 5-question structured interview was administered over a 6-month period.
Results:
Parents understood that fever necessitated admission for further diagnostic evaluation and that admissions would be no more than 48 hours if bacterial cultures were negative. Over one-third of patients' families preferred overnight discharge.
Discussion:
Parents recognize reasons for admission and the rationale for length of stay. Preferences for time of discharge can serve as a starting point for shared decision-making between parents and providers.
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