Original Articles
Impact of Parent Education on Home-Based Symptom Management and Healthcare Utilization in Children with Acute Bronchiolitis | |
Dr. Vijay Kumar, Dr. Suryendru Kumar, Dr. Nutan, Dr. Amita Ranjan | |
Background: Acute bronchiolitis is a leading cause of respiratory distress and hospitalization in infants under two years of age. Parental knowledge and confidence in home-based care are crucial for early symptom management and may reduce unnecessary healthcare utilization. However, there is limited evidence evaluating the impact of structured parental education on outcomes in bronchiolitis. Materials and Methods: A prospective interventional study was conducted at a tertiary pediatric hospital over four months, including 120 babies aged 2–24 months diagnosed with mild-to-moderate acute bronchiolitis. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups: Group A (n=60) received structured education regarding symptom monitoring, fluid management, and red flag signs, while Group B (n=60) received routine discharge advice. Follow-up was conducted over 14 days via telephonic and in-person assessments to evaluate symptom progression, emergency visits, and readmission rates. A parental knowledge questionnaire was administered pre- and post-intervention. Results: Post-education knowledge scores significantly improved in Group A (mean score increase from 42.3±7.1 to 81.5±5.8; p<0.001). Group A reported fewer emergency visits (18.3%) compared to Group B (36.7%) (p=0.02) and a lower readmission rate (6.7% vs. 15.0%, p=0.04). Parents in Group A also demonstrated better symptom recognition and adherence to supportive care protocols at home. Conclusion: Structured parental education significantly enhances symptom management capabilities and reduces emergency department visits and hospital readmissions in infants & young children with acute bronchiolitis. Integrating educational interventions into discharge planning may improve outcomes and reduce healthcare burden. |
|
Html View | Download PDF | Current Issue |
IJLBPR
322 Parlount Road Slough Berkshire SL3 8AX, UK
ijlbpr@gmail.com
© IJLBPR. All Rights Reserved.