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Research ArticleOriginal Contributions

Home Discharge of Technology-Dependent Children: Evaluation of a Respiratory-Therapist Driven Family Education Program

Donna K Tearl and James H Hertzog
Respiratory Care February 2007, 52 (2) 171-176;
Donna K Tearl
Department of Respiratory Care Services
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James H Hertzog
Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Nemours Children's Clinic Wilmington, Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Initial hospital discharge to home of technology-dependent children requires extensive training and education of the family caregivers. Education of adult family members should promote positive interactions in a nonthreatening manner while facilitating the development of the knowledge and skills to competently and independently provide all aspects of the medical care. We utilize a training program for adult family members of children who have undergone tracheostomy to facilitate long-term mechanical ventilatory support and who are being prepared for their initial discharge from the hospital to home. A dedicated respiratory therapist family educator directs this program. Multiple teaching tools, activities, and training sessions, based on adult learning theory, are utilized to develop appropriate clinical skills to manage children with tracheostomies and the associated technological supports.

METHODS: We evaluated the effectiveness of our program by administering a written test to caregivers, at the start and the conclusion of their training. We also surveyed the caregivers about their satisfaction with the educational program and the respiratory therapist family educator's performance. We also surveyed employees of the durable medical equipment companies used by the families, regarding the caregivers' knowledge and competency in the home one month following discharge.

RESULTS: Our program was associated with a statistically significant improvement in caregiver test performance, and the caregivers expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the program. The employees of the durable medical equipment companies perceived a high degree of knowledge and competence on the part of the home caregivers.

CONCLUSION: Our training program appears to have a positive impact on the educational preparation of caregivers.

  • caregiver
  • education
  • adult learning
  • customer satisfaction
  • home discharge
  • respiratory care
  • technology-dependent children

Footnotes

  • Correspondence: Donna K Tearl RRT, Department of Respiratory Care Services, Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children, 1600 Rockland Road, PO Box 269, Wilmington DE 19899. E-mail: dtearl{at}nemours.org.
  • Donna K Tearl RRT presented a version of this report at the 51st International Respiratory Congress of the American Association for Respiratory Care, held December 3–6, 2005, in San Antonio, Texas.

  • Copyright © 2007 by Daedalus Enterprises Inc.
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Respiratory Care: 52 (2)
Respiratory Care
Vol. 52, Issue 2
1 Feb 2007
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Home Discharge of Technology-Dependent Children: Evaluation of a Respiratory-Therapist Driven Family Education Program
Donna K Tearl, James H Hertzog
Respiratory Care Feb 2007, 52 (2) 171-176;

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Home Discharge of Technology-Dependent Children: Evaluation of a Respiratory-Therapist Driven Family Education Program
Donna K Tearl, James H Hertzog
Respiratory Care Feb 2007, 52 (2) 171-176;
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Keywords

  • caregiver
  • education
  • adult learning
  • customer satisfaction
  • home discharge
  • respiratory care
  • technology-dependent children

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