Maternal Stress and Coping in Neonatal Jaundice Treated with Phototherapy at Srinagarind Hospital

ABSTRACT

Background:  Phototherapy is the most common therapeutic intervention used for the treatment of neonatal jaundice, which is an extreme traumatic stressor for mothers.  A study a stress levels of mothers in neonatal jaundice  treated with phototherapy may lead to the establishment of an evidence-based nursing method.Objective:  To describe the level of stress and coping styles among mothers in neonatal jaundice treated with phototherapy.Design:  Descriptive research.Setting:  Department of  Nursing of Obstetrics \& Gynecology, Srinagarind  Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University.Population  The 96 subjects were mothers who had  jaundiced neonates treated with phototherapy between August 2005 and May 2006.Material and method:  The instruments included  (1) the Demographic Data Interview Form; (2) the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) on Lazarus and Folkman's conceptual framework (1984) and (3) the Jaloweic Coping Scale (JCS).  The reliability coefficients of the Perceived Stress Scale, the overall Jaloweic Coping Scale, examined using Cronbach Coefficient alpha obtained were 0.93 and 0.78.  Data on stressors and coping styles were analyzed for frequency, percentage, mean and variance data using SPSS.Results: The results of this study revealed that stress of mothers with jaundiced neonates treated with phototherapy was moderate (mean ± SD = 2.93 ± 0.99).  All of the mothers used a combination of coping styles. The perception-focused coping strategies were used most often (mean, 2.91±1.01), more than emotion-focused coping (mean, 2.50±1.08).Conclusion Maternal stress in neonatal  jaundice treated with phototherapy was moderate. The perception focused coping strategies were met  most often. This study may be considered for management of nursing care,  to give mothers with jaundiced neonates treated with phototherapy support through implement coping strategies and appropriate.Keywords  1. Maternal stress 2. Maternal coping 3. Neonatal jaundice 4. Phototherapy