Impact of home monitoring for sudden infant death syndrome on family life

Abstract

As home monitoring has been advocated for the prevention of sudden infant death (SIDS) we investigated the influence of such a monitoring programme on family life. Twenty European middle and lower-class families with a child monitored at home after a near miss for SIDS event were investigated. Some psychological and social findings were compared with a group of 20 matched control families. It appears that home monitoring induces severe stress, mainly in the mothers. Fathers and siblings also manifested significant emotional stress. Poor schooling of the parents and previous marital discord seem to be predictors of bad adaptation to home monitoring.

Recommended clinical evaluation of infants with an apparent life-threatening event. Consensus document of the European Society for the Study and Prevention of Infant Death, 2003

“…Re-admission for investigation is warranted in infants with severe or multiple recurrent events. Such a programme is required for the adequate care of the infant, follow-up and decrease in stressful impact of home monitoring on family life [18]. Over-the-counter delivery of monitors must therefore be discouraged.…”

Evento com aparente risco de morte: uma revisão

“…Additionally, it was found that the monitors identified episodes of asymptomatic apnea not requiring intervention, which are common both among healthy infants and among those who have suffered an ALTE previously (26) . It was also found that lay people using these monitors were susceptible to confusing true ALTE with false alarms caused by incorrect connections, thereby generating additional anxiety, particularly during the first months of use, and making it necessary to provide the families involved with psychological support (5,(52)(53)(54) . As a result, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that home-use cardiorespiratory monitors should not be used to try to prevent ALTE or SIDS and that their use be restricted to preterm newborns with recurrent episodes of apnea, bradycardia and hypoxemia; infants with tracheostomies dependent on mechanical ventilation; and to infants with unstable airways, abnormal respiratory rhythms and symptomatic chronic lung disease (55) .…”

Home monitoring of children and adolescents: suggestions for the practical application

“…In Abhängigkeit von individueller Situation [13], [36] ALTE anscheinend lebensbedrohliches Ereignis; SIDS plötzlicher Säuglingstod.…”