Parent Preferences Regarding Home Oxygen Use for Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

OBJECTIVES: To determine parent preferences for discharge with home oxygen in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective study of parents of infants born at <32 weeks' gestation with established bronchopulmonary dysplasia and approaching neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) discharge. Parents were presented a hypothetical scenario of an infant who failed weaning to room air and 2 options: discharge with home oxygen or try longer to wean oxygen. The initial scenario risks reflected a 1.5-week difference in NICU length of stay and no differences in other outcomes. Length of stay and readmission outcomes were increased or decreased until the parent switched preference. Three months after discharge, parents were asked to reconsider their preference. Differences were analyzed by χ2 or Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: Of 125 parents, 50% preferred home oxygen. For parents preferring home oxygen, the most important reason was comfort at home (79%). Forty percent switched preference when the length of stay difference decreased by 1 week; 35% switched when readmission increased by 5%. For parents preferring to stay in NICU, the most important reason was fear of taking care of the child at home (73%). Thirty-two percent switched preference when the length of stay difference increased by 1 week; 31% switched when readmission decreased by 5%. One hundred ten parents completed the 3-month follow-up; 80 were discharged with home oxygen. Seventy-eight percent would prefer home oxygen (97% who initially preferred home oxygen and 60% who initially preferred to stay in the NICU). CONCLUSIONS: Parents weigh differences in NICU length of stay and readmission risk similarly. After discharge, most prefer earlier discharge with home oxygen. Earlier education to increase comfort with home technology may facilitate NICU discharge planning.