In addition to comprehensive discharge planning specific to each patient group, intervention
patients received APN follow-up consisting of a series of home visits and telephone contacts
after discharge from the hospital. The very low birthweight (VLBW) infants received APN
intervention for 18 months after hospital discharge. The cesarean birth group and the
hysterectomy group were enrolled and received APN intervention from delivery or surgery
through 8 weeks post-discharge. The high-risk pregnancy group received APN intervention
antenatally from initial antenatal hospitalization through 8 weeks postpartum. The elderly
group received APN intervention during hospitalization and telephone follow-up for 2
weeks after discharge. Each control group received care that was standard for their patient
group at the study site during that time.