WHO TAKES CARE OF CHILDREN WHO NEED DAILY MEDICAL
CARE AT HOME?
Hashimoto
Y1, Sakai T2
1 Dept.Nursing, Kyorin Univ.Sch.Health
Sci.,
2 Dept.Biochem. &
Molecu.Biol., Kyorin Univ.Sch.Med., Tokyo, Japan
Objective: Development of
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Japan has made it possible for
extremely immature infants and newborns with severe malformations to
survive. Therefore some of children leave NICU to live with their family in
spite of their high risks. Who should manage them at home? We have to know
their families’ needs.
Methods:
1. Questionnaires sent to 18 of NICUs in Tokyo: Do doctors permit a high
risk child; a child with tube feeding, artificial stoma, mouth/tracheal
suction, tracheostomy, home oxygen and home ventilation therapy after discharge
from NICU?
2.
Interview to seven of the mothers who take care of high-risk child: What
are the mother’s needs?
Results:
1. Almost of the children need tube feeding (93.8%), suction (81.3%), home
oxygen after discharge (93,8%), stoma (68.8%), tracheostomy (50%).
Approximately 30% children need home ventilation therapy.
2. Mother wants to know how to evaluate her child’s
physical condition. Mother needs advices from a nurse or doctor at anytime
she wants.
Conclusion:
We are short of manpower to take care of high-risk child at home. We must
develop the system to support such children and their families. And we need
to establish committee in communities in order to supervise high-risk child’s
treatment.