The Effectiveness of Developmental care Program for Preterm infant in NICU Phrae Hospital
Abstract
Background: Preterm infant have many excessive stimulations from the environment in NICU such as light, sound, touching and holding the infants for medical and nursing care. These excessive stimulations affect the infants’ sleeping that lead to reduction of weight gain. The study in long term indicate that there are problems in growth and behavior from incomplete development of central nervous system in preterm infants. Developmental care program for preterm infant can help them in growth and appropriate development.
Objective: To compare length of stay, weight gain, growth and development in preterm infants that receive developmental care program for preterm infant versus preterm infants that receive normal nursing care.
Study design: This study use Historical controlled design to investigate preterm infants with
gestational age below 37 weeks that admit in NICU in Phrae hospital. Control group is 37 preterm infants that admit during August – December 2019 receiving normal nursing care. Experimental group is 37 preterm infants that admit during August – December 2020 receiving developmental care program for preterm infant. Descriptive statistics are used for general information such as number, percentage, average and standard deviation. Exact probability test and t-test are used for difference between groups. Standard error bars are used for comparison in weight.
Result: Both preterm infant groups are indifferent in sex, gestational age, birth weight, APGAR score in 1st, 5th, 10th minute, oxygen exposure, and complications. Experimental group has length of stay shorter than control group (20.02 ± 11.78 VS 25.08 ±13.16, p =0.050) and has weight gain more than control group. Growth and development at 1-2, 4, 6 and month age are indifferent in both groups.
Conclusion: Developmental care program for preterm infant can reduce admit time in NICU and promote weight gain.
Keywords: Preterm, Developmental care
