Evaluation of a developmental care training programme for neonatal nurses

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Nursing
• Pediatric Healthcare
• Professional Development in Nursing

Background:

• Developmental care is crucial for premature infants, yet professional training in this area is often overlooked.
• Overstimulation poses risks to premature infants, necessitating specialized nursing knowledge and skills.
• Existing research focuses on patient outcomes, with less attention to healthcare provider training effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a developmental care training program on nurses' knowledge and behaviors.
• To assess changes in nurses' cognitive attributes related to preventing overstimulation in premature infants.
• To determine the effectiveness of training in enhancing the implementation of developmental care.

Main Methods:

• Quasi-experimental, one-group pre-test/post-test design.
• Utilized the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) as the study framework.
• Data collected via self-administered questionnaires from neonatal intensive care unit nurses.

Main Results:

• Nurses demonstrated significantly higher post-test scores in knowledge related to developmental care.
• Training positively impacted nurses' cognitive attributes concerning the prevention of overstimulation.
• The program showed potential in improving nurses' capacity to implement developmental care strategies.

Conclusions:

• Developmental care training programs are effective in enhancing nurses' understanding and application of care principles.
• Targeted training can improve nurses' ability to prevent overstimulation in premature infants.
• Investing in professional development is key to advancing the quality of neonatal intensive care.