ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To study the association between neonatal discharge preparedness and adverse health events. METHODS: The neonates who were born in hospitals from different regions of Gansu Province in China and their parents were enrolled as subjects, and an investigation was performed for the discharge preparedness. According to the level of discharge preparedness, the subjects were divided into low-, middle-, and high-level groups. The neonates were followed up to observe the incidence rate of adverse health events within one month after discharge. The association between neonatal discharge preparedness and adverse health events was analyzed. RESULTS: The neonates with adverse health events had a significantly lower level of discharge preparedness than those without adverse events (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the incidence rate of adverse health events was reduced by 34.8% in the middle-level group and 78.7% in the high-level group compared with the low-level group (P<0.05). The readmission rate of neonates was 8.1% (35/430), and the neonates readmitted had a significantly lower level of discharge preparedness than those not readmitted (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the readmission rate of neonates was reduced by 67.4% in the middle-level group and 84.2% in the high-level group compared with the low-level group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Discharge preparedness may affect the incidence of adverse health events and the rate of readmission within one month after discharge. Medical staff should adopt effective intervention measures to improve discharge preparedness, so as to reduce the incidence of adverse health events and the rate of readmission.
