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Ingram J, Blair PS, Powell JE, et al. Preparing for Home: a before-and-after study to investigate the effects of a neonatal discharge package aimed at increasing parental knowledge, understanding and confidence in caring for their preterm infant before and after discharge from hospital. Southampton (UK): NIHR Journals Library; 2016 Mar. (Health Services and Delivery Research, No. 4.10.)

Cover of Preparing for Home: a before-and-after study to investigate the effects of a neonatal discharge package aimed at increasing parental knowledge, understanding and confidence in caring for their preterm infant before and after discharge from hospital

Preparing for Home: a before-and-after study to investigate the effects of a neonatal discharge package aimed at increasing parental knowledge, understanding and confidence in caring for their preterm infant before and after discharge from hospital.

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Appendix 2Final version of the tool for estimating likely date of discharge as used in the study

Estimating the probable date of discharge for babies

1. Babies born at 27–30 weeks’ gestation

In the first week after birth, estimate the likely discharge date, as shown in Table 29.

TABLE 29

TABLE 29

Calculating estimated discharge for babies born at 27–30 weeks’ gestation

Then adjust the estimated date of discharge according to the baby’s progress and condition as follows:

  • second or third week after birth: aim to narrow the range of dates slightly to a 5- to 7-day range.
  • by 1 month: aim to narrow the range further to 2–4 days.

2. Babies born at 31–33 weeks’ gestation

For these more mature babies it is may be easier to calculate the estimated date of discharge in days from the date of birth.

In the first week after birth: estimate the likely date of discharge as shown in Table 30.

TABLE 30

TABLE 30

Calculating estimated discharge for babies born at 31–33 weeks’ gestation

Adjust the likely date of discharge according to the baby’s progress and condition as follows:

  • second week: aim to reduce the range of dates
  • third week: aim to narrow the range further to 2–4 days.

How were these discharge dates calculated?

Data on all admissions and discharges of babies from 27 to 33 weeks’ gestation inclusive were collected from the four neonatal units involved in the study for a 2-year period (April 2011 to March 2013). The estimated LOS for each gestation given above are based upon these data and are for babies who go home directly rather than those who go home via a local Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) (e.g. Barnstaple or Torbay). Transfer to a local SCBU usually occurs 1–2 weeks before discharge home.

(On the back of this sheet we printed a copy of the calendar for 2013 and 2014 to facilitate calculation of discharge dates.)

Copyright © Queen’s Printer and Controller of HMSO 2016. This work was produced by Ingram et al. under the terms of a commissioning contract issued by the Secretary of State for Health. This issue may be freely reproduced for the purposes of private research and study and extracts (or indeed, the full report) may be included in professional journals provided that suitable acknowledgement is made and the reproduction is not associated with any form of advertising. Applications for commercial reproduction should be addressed to: NIHR Journals Library, National Institute for Health Research, Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre, Alpha House, University of Southampton Science Park, Southampton SO16 7NS, UK.

Included under terms of UK Non-commercial Government License.

Bookshelf ID: NBK349673
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