Evaluating the Impact of Nurse-Led Transition Care Guidance on Care Transition Outcomes for Children With Congenital Heart Disease: A Protocol Study

Abstract

Background Caregivers of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) often experience stress, uncertainty, and challenges in managing their child's care after hospital discharge. A structured transition care approach can help ease this process by improving caregivers' preparedness, awareness, and satisfaction with post-discharge care. Objective This study aims to develop and evaluate a nurse-led transition care guidance (TCG) program to enhance caregivers' readiness, awareness, and satisfaction during the transition from hospital to home care for children with CHD. Method A mixed-methods approach was used, consisting of a quasi-experimental quantitative phase to assess the effectiveness of the TCG intervention by comparing caregivers' readiness and satisfaction scores before and after implementation and qualitative focus group discussions (FGDs) to explore caregivers' unmet needs and challenges during the transition process. Data sources include caregiver surveys, post-discharge follow-up interviews, and hospital records. Thematic analysis will be conducted on FGDs to identify key issues affecting caregivers. Results The intervention is expected to improve caregivers' ability to provide care, increase their understanding of medical needs, and enhance their overall satisfaction with the transition process. Qualitative findings will highlight common challenges and gaps in post-discharge support. Conclusion This study will contribute to the development of evidence-based transition care plans that optimize the hospital-to-home transition for children with CHD. It highlights the importance of structured, nurse-led interventions to improve post-discharge outcomes for both caregivers and patients.