title: Reasons for increased postnatal length of stay & women's perceptions of length of stay.
abstract: A quality improvement project was conducted by a major maternity provider (3000 births per year) in the western suburbs of Melbourne. The first part of the project explored the reasons for increased length of stay (LOS), beyond the average timeframe for women receiving postnatal care. The perceptions of 100 women on their length of stay was also measured in the second part of the project. Two information audits were conducted to explore reasons for increased LOS. These reasons were varied, and by the time of the second audit, there was a demonstrated reduction in LOS. A Length of Stay Questionnaire was used to investigate women's perceptions of their LOS on discharge from hospital, and by telephone follow-up 14 days post-discharge. Perceptions varied between women and related to issues such as individual health complications, models of care, postnatal education, and degree of support at home. This project has implications for postnatal midwifery care in relation to discharge planning and women's expectations of care following birth.
authors.affiliation: Sunshine Hospital, Women's Et Children's at Sunshine, PO Box 294, St. Albans 3021, Victoria.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Kruger
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008485:Medical Audit; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology