Discharge Criteria of Preterm Infants

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
This retrospective study aims to compare discharge criteria and their impact on the length of stay using two neonatal intensive care units from two countries. The possible discharge criteria include temperature control, apnea observation, periodic respiration, least weight limit, and parents' readiness. The data were collected retrospectively in each study site.

Detailed Description
-----------------
Aims: To compare discharge criteria and their impact on the length of stay among preterm infants in Japan and Finland. The possible discharge criteria include temperature control, apnea observation, periodic respiration, least weight limit, and parents' readiness. Study design and settings: This is a retrospective comparison study in two NICUs: a Level IV in Japan and a Level III in Finland. Patients: Eligible infants are those who were born between 28+0 and 31+6 weeks of gestation and who were discharged home from the study sites between January 2020 and December 2021. Infants will be excluded if (1) they have major anomalies at birth, (2) they are not discharged home from the study sites, or (3) they are discharged home with oxygen and/or after tracheostomy. Outcome measures: The primary outcomes are the most common last discharge criterion between the two NICUs, and the potential shortening effects of each discharge criterion on the length of stay. The secondary outcome is the postmenstrual age (PMA) for each discharge criterion. Statistics: The comparison between two continuous variables will be carried out by the student t test. Ethics: The Ethics Committee of Nagano Children's Hospital gave ethical approval to this study. The study permission was obtained in both study sites.

Official Title
-----------------
Impact of Discharge Criteria on the Length of Stay in Preterm Infants: a Retrospective Study in Japan and Finland

Conditions
-----------------
Length of Stay

Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: Born between 28 and 31 weeks of gestation and Discharged home from the study sites between January 2020 and December 2021 Exclusion Criteria: Having major anomalies at birth Need for home oxygen therapy, tracheostomy, and/or gastrostomy at discharge
Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
No

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Japan<br>Preterm infants born at 28 to 31 gestational weeks in 2020-2021 in a Level IV NICU in Japan | |
| Finland<br>Preterm infants born at 28 to 31 gestational weeks in 2020-2021 in a Level III NICU in Finland | |

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Last discharge criterion | The most common last discharge criterion that was met in each study site | at discharge (about 2 months of age) | 
| Effects of each discharge criterion on the length of stay | The potential shortening effects of each discharge criterion on the length of stay | at discharge (about 2 months of age) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The postmenstrual age for each discharge criterion | The postmenstrual age for each discharge criterion that was met | at discharge (about 2 months of age) | 

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
Early discharge, Family centered care, Tube feeding, Transition to home, Neonatal home care