Fatigue in mothers of infants discharged to the home on apnea monitors

A comparative study was done to determine differences in caregiver fatigue between two groups of mothers of preterm infants at baseline, in the hospit al (Time 1), 1 week postdischarge (Time 2), and 1 month postdischarge (Time 3). Group 1 infants were discharged home on apnea monitors (AM) (n = 28), and Group 2 infants were not on apnea monitors (nonAM)(n = 46). Measured by the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF) scale, mean fatigue score s from Time 1 to Time 3 markedly increased for the monitor group and decrea sed for the nonmonitor group. The scores were significantly different betwe en the two groups at Times 2 and 3 but not at baseline. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures showed group by time interaction e ffects on fatigue. Monitoring and alleviation of fatigue in home caregivers of preterm infants on apnea monitors are necessary. Copyright (C) 1999 by W.B. Saunders Company.