274493 Promoting safer sleep environments for infants via a hospital consultation program

Monday, October 29, 2012

Renee Stratton, MS, CCRP , Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN
Larry Humbert, MSSW, PgDip , Indiana Perinatal Network, Indianapolis, IN
Barb Himes, IBCLC , Indiana Perinatal Network, Indianapolis, IN
Gregory Steele, DrPH, MPH , Dept. of Public Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
After the 1992 American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) recommendation that infants sleep in a supine or side position, an immediate decrease in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) incidence was observed. Unfortunately, analysis of infant mortality data indicates that progress has leveled in recent years. To address the stalled forward momentum, the AAP broadened its safe sleep awareness focus in October 2011, from SIDS prevention to include all sleep-related, infant deaths.

In response to this nationwide call, the Indiana Perinatal Network (IPN) is developing a hospital consultation program to promote safer infant sleep environments. Hospitals are a logical target for a consultation program because staff are a convenient information resource for families after childbirth. Nurses are in a critical position to help correct misconceptions and counter myths about SIDS and safe sleep practices. Program development activities are being completed by a student intern at the Indiana University School of Medicine-Department of Public Health, and guided by IPN staff member. The program will be developed in three phases. In phase one, current infant sleep practices will assessed through focus groups interviews (i.e., professional key informants and parents/caregivers). In addition, AAP recommendations will serve as small measures matrices indicators to assess current hospital policies and practices, parent resources, and educational materials. Qualitative and quantitative data collected from interviews and matrices will be analyzed in phase two. The last phase will consist of meeting with hospital staff to offer AAP recommendation implementation suggestions. Program development activities will also be presented at IPN events.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related nursing

Learning Objectives:
- Describe how AAP’s recommendations have been updated from one infant sleep issue focus to a multifaceted foci. - Articulate why a hospital consultation program is necessary given the recent update to the AAP’s infant sleep environment recommendation. - Discuss how the consultation program will be used to assist hospitals promote safer sleep environments for infants.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the student intern working on this program. I am responsible for carrying out the work for fulfillment of my Internship Agreement with IUSM and the Indiana Perinatal Network.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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