A prospective study of factors associated with delayed discharge in school-aged children undergoing ward-based minor surgery.
This study found a high rate of post-operative overnight stay in a group of 93 children aged between 5 and 12 years admitted to a paediatric ward for day-case procedures. Those children detained were older, had had later operations, were more worried pre-operatively and had been less happy about going to school than were children discharged on the day of surgery. Social factors, maternal worries and pre-medication also predicted delayed discharge. At a follow-up there were no differences between the day-case and in-patient groups in terms of children's psychological outcome but difficulties associated with ward-based day-case surgery were highlighted.
Glazebrook
C P
CP
Department of Nursing and Midwifery Studies, Medical School, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, U.K.
Sheard
C E
CE
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D013511:Minor Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors