Mothers' perceptions of the quality of their infants' back transfer.
OBJECTIVE
To describe mothers' experiences with back transfer of their infants from a neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU) to a community hospital (CH).


METHODS
Descriptive correlational study.


METHODS
One hundred forty-three mothers whose infants were back transferred from regional NICUs to 1 of 20 Level I or Level II CHs.


METHODS
Quality of back transfer was measured by the NICU/CH Transfer Quality Scale developed by the investigators. Overall level of stress related to back transfer was also measured.


RESULTS
More positive experiences with the NICU component of back transfer were related to fewer perceived differences in physician practice between NICUs and CH settings and fewer infant problems after transfer (R2 = 8.1%, p = .007). More positive experiences with the CH component of back transfer were related to fewer perceived differences in nursing and medical practices between settings; fewer infant problems after transfer; and more sources of pretransfer preparation (R2 = 33.4%, p < .0001). Lower levels of overall stress associated with transfer were related to fewer infant problems after transfer and greater lengths of stay in the NICU (R2 = 8.8%, p = .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Results support the need for consistency of care and coordinated approaches to back transfer.
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA.
M J
MJ
Slattery
V
V
Flanagan
L R
LR
Cronenwett
S K
SK
Meade
N S
NS
Chase
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D009511:New England; D010360:Patient Transfer; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013315:Stress, Psychological