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Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Improving Medication Safety Following Neonatal Discharge: A Feasibility Study of a Parent Medication Education

S Giva1,2,3, B Cleary3,4, F Gaffney4

  • 1School of Postgraduate Studies, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|June 4, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Recruiting parents for the PADDINGToN-2 study on medication safety resources was feasible. While retention was moderate, it supports further research into safer home medication administration for neonates.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Patient safety
  • Health services research

Background:

  • Neonates discharged with medications face medication error risks.
  • The PADDINGToN programme developed parent-designed resources for safe medication administration.
  • Previous interventions aimed to improve medication safety post-discharge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Evaluate the feasibility of recruiting and retaining parents in the PADDINGToN-2 study.
  • Assess the usability of parent co-designed resources for home medication administration.
  • Support safer medication practices for neonates after hospital discharge.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective single-centre feasibility study (March-December 2025).
  • Recruited parents of infants on ≥2 medications before discharge.
  • Followed 35 parents for 12 weeks, assessing recruitment, retention, anxiety, and confidence.

Main Results:

  • Recruitment was feasible with 35 parents enrolled.
  • Retention rate was 42.8%, meeting 'Amber' criteria for feasibility with modifications.
  • Parental anxiety scores significantly decreased from baseline (median 9 to 5).

Conclusions:

  • Feasibility of recruitment confirmed, supporting progression to larger studies.
  • Retention met criteria, indicating potential for optimized strategies.
  • Findings support the development of interventions for safer neonatal medication administration at home.
Abstract

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