Disparities in perinatal quality outcomes for very low birth weight infants in neonatal intensive care.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine if hospital-level disparities in very low birth weight (VLBW) infant outcomes are explained by poorer hospital nursing characteristics.

Data sources

Nurse survey and VLBW infant registry data.

Study design

Retrospective study of 8,252 VLBW infants in 98 Vermont Oxford Network hospital neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) nationally. NICUs were classified into three groups based on their percent of infants of black race. Two nurse-sensitive perinatal quality standards were studied: nosocomial infection and breast milk.

Data collection

Primary nurse survey (N = 5,773, 77 percent response rate).

Principal findings

VLBW infants born in high-black concentration hospitals had higher rates of infection and discharge without breast milk t

SUBMITTER: Lake ET 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4369214 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature