Affiliations: [a] Division of Neonatology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| [b] Department of Family Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Catherine G. Caruso, DO, De-partment of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science
University, School of Medicine, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR. 98239, USA. Tel.: +1 503 494 1077;
E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: BACKGROUND:This exploratory study examined parents’ experiences with “Growing at Home” (G@H), a remote patient monitoring program for stable infants discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with continued need for nasogastric tube feeding. METHODS:We used classical content analysis to identify and refine emergent themes from 13 semi-structured key informant interviews. RESULTS:The primary emergent theme was the desire to return to normalcy, which was expressed as a primary motivator for participating in G@H. Parents reported G@H assisted them in transitioning from the NICU’s highly medicalized setting to establishing a new normal with incorporation of their infant into their lives and families. Parental preparation is important, as some parents experienced challenges that indicate the program may not be suitable for all families. CONCLUSIONS:Parental experiences offer insight into benefits and challenges of early discharge from the NICU and highlight opportunities to support families beginning in the NICU and as they transition home.
Keywords: Early NICU discharge, home nasogastric tube feeding, parent perspectives, qualitative interviews, remote patient monitoring
