Optimizing Eat, Sleep, Console in the NICU: a collaborative nursing education intervention

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Pharmacology
• Nursing education

Background:

• The Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) model is a patient-centered approach for neonatal opiate withdrawal syndrome (NOWS).
• Effective implementation of ESC relies on nursing knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP).
• Previous assessments indicated inconsistent understanding and application of ESC among NICU nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess changes in NICU nursing KAP scores following a multiphase educational intervention focused on the ESC model.
• To identify behavioral shifts, barriers, and opportunities for optimizing ESC integration.

Main Methods:

• A pre-post quasi-experimental study was conducted in a Level IV NICU.
• Anonymous surveys assessed nursing KAP towards ESC before and after a three-month educational intervention.
• The intervention included didactic sessions, posters, and reference guides; data analyzed using ANOVA.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant increase in mean total KAP scores was observed post-intervention (p=0.40).
• Nurses with less than five years of experience showed the greatest improvement in knowledge and total KAP scores.
• Perceived safety and effectiveness of ESC improved slightly; didactic attendance did not significantly influence KAP.

Conclusions:

• Collaborative education alone was insufficient to significantly alter NICU nursing KAP scores for the ESC approach.
• Additional system-level support strategies are necessary for successful ESC implementation and improved nursing perceptions.
• Addressing barriers related to families and staff through tailored interventions may enhance ESC feasibility and nursing KAP.