Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Major

Nursing

Date of Defense

4-19-2023

Graduate Advisor

Alicia Hutchings

Committee

Susan Dean-Baar

Rebecca Boedecker

Abstract

After an expectant mother gives birth, they are closely monitored for 48 to 72 hours after delivery and then discharged from the hospital. They are then typically seen by their physician for a postpartum follow up appointment within six to eight weeks for their postpartum follow up visit. Although complications during this postpartum period can still arise, postpartum women are rarely assessed during this time. Follow-up phone calls have been known to improve patient outcomes and communication between patients and providers once patients are discharged from the hospital. In January of 2020, the Mother/Baby Unit at a midwestern metropolitan hospital implemented the “call back” follow-up phone call system to mothers that had been discharged from the unit. This program was implemented in order to follow up with postpartum women during the Covid-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of follow up phone calls on postpartum women in the areas of follow up appointment attendance and continuation of breastfeeding 6 to 8 weeks (depending on mode of delivery) after discharge. This descriptive study design evaluated the efficiency of the follow-up call program and provided information regarding its effects on follow up appointment adherence and continuation of breastfeeding at 6 to 8 weeks after discharge. Randomized retrospective data from October 2019 (pre-intervention) and October 2020 (post-intervention) was included in this evaluation. According to the data analysis conducted, there was no statistical significance in follow up appointment attendance or breastfeeding continuation with postpartum women in October 2020 when compared to postpartum women in October 2019. However, a clinical significance was observed seeing that there was no decrease in follow up appointment attendance or breastfeeding continuation in both populations during the Covid-19 pandemic. I recommend continuing follow up phone calls and utilizing the results of this project to recognize areas for improvement and growth.

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