ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the feasibility of open visiting among mothers' of very-low-birth-weight(VLBW) infants and observe effects.Methods Totally 74 eligible VLBW infants were recruited,those who were visited and cared daily by mothers were assigned into the experimental group(n=36) and those who were not visited by mothers were assigned into the control group(n=38).The experimental group received open visiting as well as individualized developmental nursing care,and the control group only received individualized developmental nursing care.Relevant regulations and procedures were designed,and clinical pathways of mothers' involvement in nursing care were developed and implemented.Incidence of infection,time to reach full oral feeding,weight gaining during hospitalization,rate of breast-feeding during hospitalization and 30 days after discharge,hospitalization time and rate of readmission 30 days after discharge were recorded and compared.Results There was no significant difference in incidence of infection between two groups (P＞0.05).Time to reach full oral feeding in the experimental group was earlier than that of the control group,weight gaining during hospitalization in the experimental group was faster than that of the control group,rate of breast-feeding 30 days after discharge was higher in the experimental group,and the differences were significant (P＜0.05).Hospitalization time in the experimental group was shorter than that of the control group,rate of readmission 30 days after discharge in the experimental group was lower,and the differences were significant (P＜0.05).Conclusion Mother's open visiting for VLBW infants in NICU does not increase the incidence of infection,but can shorten time to reach full oral feeding,promote weight gaining,increase rate of breast-feeding 30 days after discharge,reduce hospitalization time,and decrease rate of readmission 30 days after discharge.