Investigating the experience of parents who have given their infants enoxaparin at home

Abstract

IntroductionEnoxaparin is a common anticoagulant used in infants for the prevention and treatment of thrombosis. When administered with the purpose of treating a thrombosis, the duration of treatment is six to twelve weeks. Enoxaparin must be injected subcutaneously, either by direct injection or via an indwelling subcutaneous catheter (Insuflon™). Once discharged from hospital, parents/caregivers of infants and small children take responsibility for the safe preparation and administration of the enoxaparin which can be difficult and confronting. Whilst there is documented evidence about the benefits of targeted education for warfarin anticoagulation and the impact this has on the quality of life for children and their families, this has not been investigated in a cohort of children requiring enoxaparin anticoagulation. We therefore explored the educational needs of parents whose infants require enoxaparin anticoagulation after discharge to inform future practice to optimise delivery of care as well as improve patient safety and outcomes. Materials & methodsA qualitative, descriptive methodology was employed using focus groups to generate rich descriptive data. ResultsOur results show that parents were traumatised by the process of managing their infant's enoxaparin, and that they may benefit from a formal, more structured educational program to facilitate this treatment in the future. ConclusionIt is recognised that enoxaparin therapy in infants may be a traumatic experience for parents and caregivers. The availability of an educational resource for families to refer to once discharged, as well as ongoing communication with the treating medical team is vital.