Accuracy of caregivers' recall of hospital admissions: implications for research.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the accuracy of caregivers' recall of hospital admissions in early childhood.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study of babies born at risk of neonatal hypoglycaemia at Waikato Hospital, New Zealand, a regional public hospital and sole provider of acute inpatient care to over 100,000 children. Caregivers' recall of children's hospital admissions up to 4.5 years was compared with medical records. Accuracy of recall was related to neonatal and socio-demographic characteristics.


RESULTS
Of 267 children, 179 (67%) visited hospital and 106 (40%) were admitted at least once. The most frequent reasons for admission were for respiratory (29%) and gastrointestinal (18%) problems. Of 106 children admitted to hospital, 27 (25%) caregivers did not recall the admission and only 37 (35%) accurately recalled the number of admissions. The accuracy of recall was lower for gastrointestinal (38%) and surgical (40%) problems, while recall of respiratory (64%) and ear, nose and throat (60%) admissions was more accurate. Low socio-economic status and multiple admissions were associated with less accurate recall of number of admissions.


CONCLUSIONS
Caregivers do not accurately report hospital admissions. Questionnaire data about use of hospital facilities should be interpreted cautiously and may not be sufficiently accurate for use in research studies.
Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Nataliia
N
Burakevych
Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.|Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Christopher Joel Dorman
CJ
McKinlay
Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.|Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Jane Marie
JM
Alsweiler
Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Jane Elizabeth
JE
Harding
D035843:Biomedical Research; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies
Hospitalisation; Medical records; Preschool children; Questionnaires