Results of Using Guidelines for Tranferring Newborns in Prachuapkhirikhan Hospital

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare complications of newborn transfer before and after using the newborn transfer guidelines in Prachuapkhirikhan Hospital and to assess the satisfaction of medical personnel in using guidelines.

Method: This is a retrospective analytical study. Data were collected from the medical records of newborns transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit Prachuapkhirikhan Hospital; systematic sampling method was used, enrolling 33 patients from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2017. General information was collected such as maternal age, gestational age, baby gender, baby weight, diagnosis, and complications of referrals including respiratory tract complication such as the malposition of endotracheal tube, the extreme low or high blood sugar, low or high body temperature, shock, and death.

Results: A sample of 33 infants received; in 2012–2014, 17 before using the referral guidelines and in 2015–2017, 16 after using the referral guidelines; 63.6% were born prematurely, 69.7% had birth weight less than 2,500 grams. The most common referral complications were low body temperature (30.3%), respiratory complications such as a slip or displacement of endotracheal tube (15.2%) and low blood sugar (12.1%). When comparing before using the referral guidelines in 2012–2014 and after using the referral guidelines in 2015–2017, complications were found to decrease, with low temperature decreasing from 35.3 percent to 25 percent (p = .397). Additionally; respiratory complications decreased from 23.5 percent to 6.3 percent (p = .335), no shock was found (p = .258), and no infant death was found (p = .125). The satisfaction of medical personnel in using the newborn referral guideline at Prachuapkhirikhan Hospital was at a very satisfied level.

Conclusion: From the study, satisfaction in using the guidelines of medical personnel was at a very satisfied level. It cannot be concluded that using the guidelines could reduce complications in neonatal transfer.Hypothermia, shock, and death were reduced, but no statistical significance was found. Therefore, there should be additional study.