Abstract:
The purpose of this quasi-experimental research was to study the effect of discharge planning for pediatric patients with acute diarrhea using the Neuman systems model on childcare behaviors of caregivers. Subjects were composed of 40 caregivers of pediatric patients with acute diarrhea, assigned to a control group and an experimental group based on sequence of hospitalization. The first 20 caregivers were assigned to the control group, and the last 20 caregivers were in the experimental group. Subjects in these two groups were match paired by education level and caregivers' experience of caring for children with acute diarrhea. The experimental group received discharge planning using the Neuman systems model. The control group received routine discharge planning. Childcare behaviors of caregivers were measured on the second day after discharge by the childcare behaviors interview developed by the researcher. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, paired T-test. It was found that childcare behaviors of the caregivers of pediatric patients with acute diarrhea using the Neuman systems model was significantly better than that the caregivers of pediatric patients receiving routine discharge planning, at the level of .05. In addition, caregivers of pediatric patients with acute diarrhea received discharge planning using the Neuman systems model were satisfied with the received nursing care in caregivers' participation, continuity of care, and the effectiveness of care dimensions.