The Effect of Developmentally Supportive Positioning (DSP) on Preterm Infants' Stress Levels

Research has proven that developmentally supportive care (DSC) improves the developmental outcomes for preterm infants. Available evidence regarding the similar effect of one of its principles; developmentally supportive positioning (DSP); was inconclusive; which lead to this study. The study was conducted in two phases: firstly; the Hennessy Stress Scale for the Preterm Infant was developed and; secondly; using a within-subject design; the effects of DSP n the stress levels of preterm infants were measured. Using the Hennessy Stress Scale for the Preterm Infant; observed qualitative data could be quantified to reflect the infant's stress levels as a percentage. Nonprobability sampling was used to select twenty-two preterm infants of gestational age 37 weeks. The stress levels of these infants; who were admitted to a specific neonatal intensive care unit and not sedated; were observed before and after the implementation of DSP; and were then quantified; and recorded. The pre-test (infants without DSP) and post-test (same infants with DSP) mean stress level scores were 29.07 vs. 16.87 (mean shift of 12.2 and standard deviation of 3.97); which were significantly different (p 0.0001; Student's paired t-test). The conclusion was that DSP significantly decreases premature infants' stress levels

Empowerment of Parents in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit by Neonatal Nurses

Parents of infants who are admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) need to be empowered to improve bonding; attachment and care-giving skills. Neonatal nurses play a critical role in the empowerment of such parents; but often find it difficult due to a lack of clarity on how it has to be done. A qualitative contextual study; on which this article is reporting; was conducted to describe the parents' needs and suggestions for empowerment as obtained from parents. This was presented to purposive selected neonatal nurses during a workshop to derive guidelines for empowerment of parents in an NICU

The Effect of Formal Exposure to Developmental Care Principles on the Implementation developmental Care Positioning and Handling of Preterm Infants by Neonatal Nurses

The preterm infant requires developmental care that is designed to minimise the stress that the infant experiences within the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The aim of the study was to determine the effect of formal exposureto developmental care principles on the implementation of developmental care positioning and handling of the preterm infant by neonatal nurses. The first objective of the study was to compile an accurate scale for measuring the implementation of these principles with respect to the handling and positioning of the infant. Secondly; the study aimed at determining changes in the implementation of developmental care principles within a selected NICU after neonatal nurses were formally exposed to developmental care training. A quasi-experimental research design and a one-group pre-test-post-test approach were followed; and the Wilcoxon matched-pair signed-rank tests were used toexamine the changes. Results were statistically significant and indicated improvement with respect to the developmental care components that were measured. The recommendation was that developmental care principles be integrated into formal neonatal courses. Follow-up studies should be conducted to determine the reliability of the instrument for possible inclusion in routine assessment of the quality of the implementation of developmental care in the NICU