Transition From Hospital to Home Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Feasibility Study for “Rooming in”

Abstract

Background: The experience of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) on both the patients and their caregivers is complex and challenging during hospitalization and post discharge. Complex patient populations require heightened attention on discharge practices to ensure that they are prepared for home regimens. “Rooming in” is a standardized intervention implemented prior to discharge that allows patients and caregivers to assume post discharge care with the support of staff. Other complex patient populations have reported positive outcomes related to “rooming in.” Aims: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of a standardized “rooming in” intervention for discharge of pediatric HSCT patients. An additional aim was to describe the quality of discharge teaching, readiness for hospital discharge, and postdischarge coping difficulty in a cohort of HSCT patients using validated questionnaires. Method: Data were collected via medical chart review. A prospective cohort completed validated study questionnaires at discharge and 30 days postdischarge. Results: All caregivers of post-HSCT patients were able to complete the “rooming in” intervention. There was no statistically significant difference for length of stay between the retrospective and prospective cohorts. Caregivers enrolled on the study rated the Quality of Discharge Teaching Scale–Parent Form high ( Mdn = 165). Conclusion: We conclude that “rooming in” is a feasible discharge intervention for caregivers of pediatric HSCT patients.

Parental Posttraumatic Growth After Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant

“…Frequent appointments, complex medication regimens, and infection prevention strategies are time-intensive aspects of everyday life 8,9 . Parents experience difficulty coping due to stress from the children's intense caregiving needs during HSCT recovery 10 . Parents prioritize children's needs over their own, often overlooking their own self-care 11 …”

The Effect of Educational Intervention on Care Dependency and Symptom Management After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Theory-Based Randomized Controlled Study

“…A printed booklet for educating patients was prepared after reviewing the literature [26,27,31,32]. The booklet was evaluated by 10 different professionals, namely two hematologists, four hematology nurses, and four nursing academicians.…”

Implementation and Evaluation of Discharge Planning for Patients Undergoing Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation

“…Lin et al [ 8 ] reported that a hospital-to-home transitional care program improved the self-efficacy and QoL of the stroke survivors, and reduced unplanned hospital readmissions during the 24-week follow-up. To date, only 1 study has explored the feasibility of a discharge intervention named “Rooming in” for caregivers of pediatric HSCT recipients, and they demonstrated that “Rooming in” could lower the coping difficulty scores of caregivers [ 9 ]. However, no study has focused on the effects of discharge planning on UCBT recipients; in addition, the impact of discharge planning on patients’ readmission rates, self-efficacy, QoL, and clinical outcomes are still uncertain.…”