A digital-based follow-up program to improve maternal competence in preterm home care- A true-experimental study

Abstract

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to evaluate how a digital-based follow-up program affects maternal competence in preterm newborn home care. MethodsA true-experimental, pretest-posttest control group study was conducted on 80 mothers of preterm infants at a tertiary-level medical college hospital in Karnataka, India, using a structured knowledge questionnaire and observation checklist. The experimental group received a multi-component, digital-based follow-up program. ResultsThe competence of mothers in the experimental group improved significantly after the intervention, as evidenced by the between-group difference in knowledge and practice score (p = 0.000). ConclusionBecause it provides mothers with continuity of support, a digital-based follow-up program can be used to improve their ability to care for preterm babies.