Incidence and Parental Perception of Cardiorespiratory Monitor Use in Preterm Infants

The objective of this study is to examine the incidence and clinical indicators for use of cardiorespiratory (CR) monitor use. We also examined parents' perceptions on the usefulness of home CR monitoring when their preterm infants were discharged from the hospital. A retrospective patients record review was conducted to assess CR monitor use at discharge in preterm infants from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2017. Participants received a telephone survey that examined parents' CR monitor experiences and use. Over the study period, forty-four infants were discharged home on CR monitor with the incidence rate of 8.1%. Of those, 28 parents were surveyed between 1 and 2 years post discharge. Most parents reported feeling secure but anxious using the CR monitor. Parents who reported experiencing false alarms frequently also reported having feelings of anxiety while using the CR monitor. Findings from this preliminary study support the importance of understanding the role of parent perceptions of families with infants on CR monitors.