Accuracy of caregivers' recall of hospital admissions: implications for research

Abstract

Aim: To determine the accuracy of caregivers' recall of hospital admissions in early childhood.

Methods: Prospective cohort study of babies born at risk of neonatal hypoglycaemia at Waikato Hospital, New Zealand, a regional public hospital and sole provider of acute inpatient care to over 100,000 children. Caregivers' recall of children's hospital admissions up to 4.5 years was compared with medical records. Accuracy of recall was related to neonatal and socio-demographic characteristics.

Results: Of 267 children, 179 (67%) visited hospital and 106 (40%) were admitted at least once. The most frequent reasons for admission were for respiratory (29%) and gastrointestinal (18%) problems. Of 106 children admitted to hospital, 27 (25%) caregivers did not recall the admission and only 37 (35%) accurately recalled the number of admissions. The accuracy of recall was lower for gastrointestinal (38%) and surgical (40%) problems, while recall of respiratory (64%) and ear, nose and throat (60%) admissions was more accurate. Low socio-economic status and multiple admissions were associated with less accurate recall of number of admissions.

Conclusion: Caregivers do not accurately report hospital admissions. Questionnaire data about use of hospital facilities should be interpreted cautiously and may not be sufficiently accurate for use in research studies.

Keywords: Hospitalisation; Medical records; Preschool children; Questionnaires.