Indicators of compliance for developmental follow-up of infants discharged from a regional NICU.
OBJECTIVE
To identify factors associated with compliance of scheduled outpatient developmental follow-up appointments in an effort to better ensure future care.


METHODS
This retrospective observational cohort study looked at patients born between January 7(th) 2006 and June 30(th) 2007 and discharged from a regional neonatal intensive care unit (RNICU). Discharge summaries were reviewed to attain information regarding 16 patient descriptives and 12 patient morbidities. Data were recorded and analyzed utilizing the statistical software SPSS 11.5.


RESULTS
Children of older mothers were more likely to attend follow-up (compliant: 30 years vs. non-compliant: 27 years). Factors which significantly improved compliance with follow-up care were patient contact after discharge (compliant: 65% vs. non-compliant: 35%) and early intervention referral (compliant: 64% vs. non-compliant: 36%). Factors which significantly hindered compliance were maternal drug use during pregnancy (compliant: 11.8% vs. non-compliant: 88%), and patient transfer to outside NICUs [(transferred out: compliant: 3 (10.3%), non-compliant 25 (89.3%)].


CONCLUSIONS
Several factors associated with compliance have been identified. Direct patient contact after discharge positively correlated with improved follow-up attendance. The severity of patient disease in the NICU did not impact follow-up rates. As a result close attention needs to be paid to factors which influence compliance with outpatient follow-up for developmental screening.
Nehra
Vedika
V
School of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.
Pici
Maria
M
Visintainer
Paul
P
Kase
Jordan S
JS
D000328:Adult; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002657:Child Development; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008423:Maternal Age; D009518:New York; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010360:Patient Transfer; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D055815:Young Adult