Association between parental education level & outcomes for children with long-term ventilator dependence: Communication behaviors as moderating variables

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between parental education level and outcomes for children with long-term ventilator dependence (LTVD) and their families and whether parent communication behaviors with hospital nurses moderated the relationship. Advances in medical technology and policy changes allow children with LTVD to be cared for at home. The child's diagnosis and disease severity affect their health outcomes, as do their family's social determinants of health (SDoH) such as parent education. Design and methods This secondary data analysis used chi-square tests to evaluate the correlation between parental education level and outcomes. Generalized linear mixed effect models were used to examine the moderation effect of parent communication behaviors. Results Lower parental education level was associated with more child respiratory infections and more parental uncertainty within one month following hospital discharge. Lower parent education level was also associated with fewer unplanned contacts with providers within one week post-discharge. Additionally, parent use of Verifying Understanding communication behaviors moderated the relationship between parental education level and number of respiratory infections and amount of parental uncertainty. Finally, parent use of Negotiating Roles moderated the association between education level and number of unplanned visits. Conclusions Contradicting previous research, lower parental education level does not consistently correspond to adverse outcomes and may be explained by parents' determination to ensure optimal outcomes for their children with LTVD. Practice implications Overall, healthcare providers should not be concerned that children with LTVD will have different outcomes based on their parents' education level.