Nursing and Nurturing Premature Infants
Nursing and Nurturing Premature Infants
The purpose of this study is to determine whether systematic use of the Newborn
 Individualized Developmental Care Assessment Program (NIDCAP®) improves the neurologic
 development of children and the parental competence of mothers.
Background: The unborn infant's brain is growing from the fifth month of fetal life which
 makes preterm babies sensitive to environmental influence. Therefore, to prevent
 developmental brain injury is an essential goal for neonatal nurses.

 Purpose: The study investigates whether systematic use of Newborn Individualized
 Developmental Care Assessment Program (NIDCAP®) improves the neurological development of
 preterm babies and the parental competence of mothers.

 Design: This study compares postnatal care of preterm babies in two neonatal units.

 Participants: Preterm infants born before 32 weeks' gestational age and their mothers.

 Instruments:

 -  Preterm babies' behaviour in intervention and control groups is observed every 7-12 days
 using scoring sheets.

 -  Questionnaires focusing on maternal self esteem when the baby is 4 weeks and again at 3
 and 18 months and 5 years.

 Expected outcomes:

 -  Infants: less time with treatment using CPAP and oxygen, growth, time of discharge and
 pattern of motor behaviour.

 -  Mothers: self reported experiences of self esteem.

 Analysis: t-test Expected implications: In a health promotion perspective the systematic
 NIDCAP program hopefully will constitute a more competent mother, knowledgeable in child care
 and parental management. The intervention NIDCAP®-care infant group is expected to increase
 in growth compared to the control group, their motor system will be more mature, and there
 will be an earlier discharge, all factors contributing positively to health economy.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Premature infants

 -  The infants' biological mothers

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Premature infants with chromosomal anomaly

 -  Mothers who cannot read and understand Danish