Study Comparing Automatic Versus As-Needed Follow-Up After Hospital Stay for Children with Common Infections

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to compare two different approaches to post-hospitalization follow-up care for children hospitalized with common infections such as pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections, acute gastroenteritis, or urinary tract infections. The study evaluates whether automatic follow-up visits scheduled at discharge or a more flexible as-needed PRN follow-up approach, where parents monitor symptoms and decide on visits, impact hospital readmission rates and other health outcomes. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives a recommendation for automatic follow-up, instructing them to schedule and attend a follow-up visit regardless of symptom improvement. The other group receives a recommendation for PRN follow-up, where scheduling a visit at discharge is not required, and parents decide if a visit is necessary based on their childs symptoms. Both groups are monitored to compare outcomes over time. During the study, researchers will track hospital readmissions within 14 days of discharge as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes include medical interventions and the childs health-related quality of life measured seven days after discharge. Additional factors like healthcare use, parent anxiety, satisfaction, and costs will also be assessed. The study includes follow-up through communications with healthcare providers and monitoring of immunizations and well-child visits. Participation lasts at least through the 14-day post-discharge period to capture these outcomes.

Follow-up Automatically vs. As-Needed Comparison (FAAN-C) Trial