Maternal Kangaroo care education program in the neonatal intensive care unit improved mothers' perceptions, knowledge, perceived barriers and stress relates to premature infant.
Sharmiza Samsudin, Ping Lei Chui, Azanna Binti Ahmad Kamar and 1 others
PMID 36514142WHAT IT FOUND
In a Malaysian NICU, mothers of premature infants who received a structured kangaroo-care education programme reported better perceptions and knowledge, fewer perceived barriers and less stress than mothers receiving usual care.
The outcomes were maternal questionnaire reports.
Key findings
01Mothers in the education group reported better kangaroo-care perceptions than control mothers (mean 3.15 versus 3.40; lower scores mean better perception).
02Mothers in the education group reported higher kangaroo-care knowledge than control mothers (mean 2.40 versus 2.16; higher scores mean better knowledge).
03Mothers in the education group reported lower stress than control mothers (mean 2.96 versus 3.74; lower scores mean less stress).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The control and education groups were not randomised; they were recruited in separate time periods, so hospital practice, season or other changes could explain the differences. The reported results focus on mothers' self-reported perceptions, knowledge, barriers and stress, not measured infant clinical outcomes. Only singleton premature infants were included, although many preterm births in Malaysia are twins or triplets. The education programme combined several components, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated. The study did not follow exclusive breastfeeding status until 6 months, and kangaroo-care intensity was measured only over 3 months. The trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov shortly after completion, not before.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that this programme improved premature infants' health. The reported outcomes were mothers' self-reported perceptions, knowledge, barriers and stress. Do not attribute the change to one component, because the programme combined a presentation, simulation, practical session, leaflet, diary and kangaroo-care reminders in a non-randomised design.