Competency based performance of mothers on preterm neonatal care through Neonatal Integrative Developmental Care (NIDC) interventions: An interventional pilot project

Abstract

BackgroundFamily-centered care and developmentally supportive care are the current norms in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). In this study, interventions are derived from the seven core measures of the Neonatal integrative developmental care (NIDC) model designed by Altimier and Phillips (2016) which strive towards protection of premature brains while in the NICU. This study involved mothers in the care of their preterm neonates. Neonatal outcomes and competency levels in the care delivered by the mothers when handling their preterm infants were observed. Materials and methodsA quasi experimental time series design study with repeated interventions was undertaken. The pilot study was conducted among 60 mothers with 30 in the interventional group and 30 in the control group at two private hospitals, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India. The tool consisted of a baseline proforma, competency based performance rating scale, biophysiological parameters checklist, preterm infant behavior scale by D'Souza et al. (2014) and Preterm Infant Breastfeeding Behavior Scale by Nyqvist et al. (1999) validated by 10 experts. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the samples. ResultsThe findings of the study showed that the competencies delivered by mothers in the interventional group were statistically significant (p = 0.000). Neonatal biophysiological parameters improved in terms of oxygen saturation (p = 0.007) and respiratory rate (p = 0.002) in the experimental group, and weight gain (p = 0.001) was noted in both the groups respectively. Preterm infant behavior (p = 0.001) and PIBBS scores (p = 0.001) also improved in both groups simultaneously with no significant difference in behavioral states but the PIBBS scores were significantly better in the interventional group (p = 0.001). ConclusionsOur study findings revealed the need for supportive care interventions that can be performed through simple measures, such as helping mothers and care-givers become a part of their neonate's life by participating in their care while in the NICU.