Home apnea monitoring: Family functioning, concerns, and coping

Abstract

<p>Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death in infants between one week and one year of age. The mainstay of therapy to reduce SIDS mortality is evaluation and subsequent home monitoring of infants at risk for SIDS. This study explored the concerns and responses of families of 13 infants to having an infant on a home apnea monitor. These concerns and responses were reported by the mother at three time points in the home apnea monitoring experience. The Neuman Systems Model served as the theoretical basis for the investigation. The study design was longitudinal with event partitioning, and used the following instruments: Hymovich's Parent Perception Inventory, the Feetham Family Functioning Survey, the Monitoring Flowsheet, and the Early Infancy Temperament Questionnaire. Data analysis included repeated measures analyses of variance and correlational coefficients. Maternal concerns and coping response scores were positively correlated with family functioning discrepancy scores at the initiation of monitoring. Parental coping response scores were negatively correlated with infant temperament at the termination of monitoring, as are severity of illness and sibling coping behavior. Patterns were apparent in the frequencies of various concerns and coping strategies at different points in the home monitoring experience. Because nurses are in key positions to coordinate the development of strategies for families to use in coping with the stressor of home apnea monitoring, this study is particularly beneficial to practicing nurses. Information about concerns and coping responses along with determination of the relationship with family functioning and infant temperament provide a basis for nurses to develop interventions to assist families in positively coping with the home apnea monitoring experience.</p>