Home versus hospital phototherapy for term infants with hyperbilirubinemia: a comparative study

Twenty-five term infants with hyperbilirubinemia were selected for phototherapy administered at home if they fulfilled clinical and laboratory criteria designed to exclude any pathologic cause of hyperbilirubinemia. Ongoing nursing surveillance of home phototherapy was provided to assure adequate nursing care. No phototherapy-related complications were noted in the study infants. Effectiveness of phototherapy at home was compared with results in a similar group of 33 infants who underwent standard hospital phototherapy. The average decrease in serum bilirubin concentration was similar for the two groups after the first day of treatment. Duration of phototherapy was longer for infants treated at home. The major motivating factor for study entry appeared to be avoidance of parent-infant separation.