CLINICAL STUDIES
Evaluation of a Caregiver Education Program: Home Oxygen Therapy for Infants

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Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured education program for increasing caregiver knowledge of infants discharged on home oxygen therapy.

Design

The study used a one‐group pretest‐posttest design with recruitment of subjects between May 1988 and May 1989.

Setting/Participants

All subjects were primary caregivers of infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia who were discharged from a tertiary‐care center. Eighteen caregivers of 10 infants entered and completed the study.

Inteventions

The education program included a booklet, videotape, and practical session. A pretest was administered immediately before the caregiver entered the program, and a posttest was administered immediately after caregiver completion of the program. A delayed posttest was administered 6 weeks after the infant's discharge from the hospital.

Main Outcome Measure

The difference between the mean scores on the pretest and posttest.

Results

Posttest scores were significantly higher than pretest scores (t = 4.22; p < .01).

Conclusion

The significant difference between the pretest and posttest scores was due to the education program. The effects of history and maturation on posttest scores were minimal.

Section snippets

Materials and Methods Sample

The study included the primary caregivers of all infants discharged home from an NICU with supplemental oxygen between May 1988 and May 1989. Recruitment of subjects was limited to a tertiary-level, regional NICU that serves southern Alberta, an area with 19,000 live births each year. Recruitment was limited to one center to reduce the number of confounding variables that would have been introduced with the inclusion of level two neonatal units or pediatric services.

Results

The effect of a structured education program on caregiver knowledge level was evaluated. Potential confounding variables were also taken into account and included family and infant characteristics.

Discussion

The posttest scores were significantly higher than the pretest scores. Therefore, the education program was found to be effective in increasing the knowledge of caregivers. The significant difference found between the two test scores could be considered to be due to the education program, because the effects of history and maturation were minimal in the study design. The other educational components (instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and home oxygen delivery) were consistently

Nursing Implications

At least eight implications for the practice of nursing arose from the study:

  • 1.

    Because the education program did increase parental knowledge, structured, consistent programs should be used for teaching caregivers.

  • 2.

    Because the pretest was a useful learning tool for parents, it may be beneficial to incorporate a pretest as part of an education program.

  • 3.

    Reference material should be given to parents to take home; most parents indicated that they would read through the booklet again before the infant

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