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Use of an Outcome by Gestation Table for Extremely Premature Babies: A Cross-Sectional Survey of the Views of Parents, Neonatal Nurses and Perinatologists

Journal of Perinatology volume 20, pages 504–508 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To promote family-centered care and strengthen the process of informed consent it is essential that parents have access to information on the problems their baby may face. We have constructed an Outcome by Gestation Table (OGT) with information on survival, short-term complications plus treatments of the most recent cohort of babies born at different gestations from 23 to 28 weeks. This study documents the views on the table from parents of babies <29 weeks gestation, neonatal nurses, and doctors.

STUDY DESIGN: A copy of the OGT and a questionnaire seeking views regarding the OGT was sent to the parents' support group (Preemie-List), 71 randomly chosen perinatologists in Australia and to the 35 nurses working in our NICU. Differences between groups were analyzed using χ-squared analysis.

RESULTS: Forty-eight parents participated in the study. Forty-three (60.5%) doctors and 24 (68.5%) neonatal nurses replied. The three groups agreed that the OGT is not misleading. The majority of doctors feel that the table: is easy to understand but has too much information; is useful but they are ambivalent about using it in their practice. The results were highly significant with parents being most positive and accepting of the OGT, next nurses and finally doctors.

CONCLUSION: It is important to seek the views of both consumers and carers on any aid in communication in the NICU.

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Author notes

  1. Anne Casey: Mother of a premature baby.

  2. Helen Harrison: Author of “The Premature Baby Book,” St. Martin's Press, 1983 and mother of a premature baby, Berkeley, CA, USA.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NICU, Kirwan Hospital, Townsville, QLD 4817, Australia

    THHG Koh

  2. Preemie-L, Melbourne, Australia

    Anne Casey

  3. Berkeley, CA, USA

    Helen Harrison

Authors
  1. THHG Koh
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  2. Anne Casey
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  3. Helen Harrison
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Additional information

Data from this paper were presented to Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand 4th Annual Congress in Brisbane March 2000 and at the Year 2000 Pediatric Academic Societies and American Academy of Pediatrics Joint Meeting in Boston, May 2000. Funding from The Royal Children's Hospital Foundation, Brisbane is acknowledged.

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Koh, T., Casey, A. & Harrison, H. Use of an Outcome by Gestation Table for Extremely Premature Babies: A Cross-Sectional Survey of the Views of Parents, Neonatal Nurses and Perinatologists. J Perinatol 20, 504–508 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7200459

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