Publication: A Quality Improvement Initiative to Shorten the Duration of Hospital stay of Preterm / Low Birth Weight Babies with Special Focus on Infant and Family Centered Developmental care
Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Perinatal Society of Nepal (PESON)
Abstract
Abstract:
Introduction: Infant and family-centered developmental care (IFCDC) incorporates neurodevelopment, parental involvement, parent-infant bonding, and enabling sensory environment. The focus is on minimizing the separation between child and parents and ensuring parental involvement in the care of babies right after birth. This not only helps in optimal neurodevelopmental outcomes but also early discharge of preterm babies as parents will be confident in taking care of their preterm, low birth weight (LBW) babies. IFCDC is not adopted by most neonatal units in Nepal.
Aim statement: To reduce the duration of hospital stay of preterm/LBW babies from 10.5 days to 8 days (20% reduction) with a special focus on infant and family-centered developmental care.
Methods: This is a hospital-based quality improvement project conducted at a 50-bed governmental district hospital located at a rural setup outside Kathmandu valley in Bagmati province of Nepal. Baseline data on infant length of stay (LOS) was evaluated using the hospital records. Problems were identified using a fishbone diagram. Process and outcome indicators were formulated and analyzed. Multiple Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were conducted to achieve the desired target.
Results: The average duration of the hospital stay was reduced from the pre-intervention period of 10.5 days to 8 days after incorporating IFCDC which persisted during the post-intervention of 4 weeks.
Conclusion: Our study has shown that the duration of hospital stay of preterm babies is reduced when IFCDC is adopted. IFCDC is a win-win approach and needs to be adopted in all the neonatal units across the country.
Description
Sajal Twanabasu
Consultant Paediatrician, Dhading Hospital, Nilkantha Municipality, Dhading, Nepa
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2629-6095
Bhusan Kumar Subedi
Internist, Dhading Hospital, Nilkantha Municipality, Dhading, Nepal.
Sushan Homagain
Medical Officer, Dhading Hospital, Nilkantha Municipality, Dhading, Nepal
Sujina Maskey
Medical Officer, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lagankhel, Lalitpur, Nepal
Anjana Shrestha
Dhading Hospital, Nilkantha Municipality, Dhading, Nepal
Kriti Shrestha
Staff Nurse, Dhading Hospital, Nilkantha Municipality, Dhading, Nepal.
Keywords
IFCDC, KMC, Length of stay, Low birth weight, Preterm, Quality improvement