NURSES KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE REGARDING DEVELOPMENTAL SUPPORTIVE CARE

Abstract

The progresses of science and technology in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have contributed to the increased survival of preterm and low birth weight neonates.Quantitative, non-experimental descriptive research design to assess the knowledge and practice regarding Developmental Supportive Care (DSC) of 40 clinical nurses aged between 20 – 60 years old and posted in SNICU, MNICU and PICU of IGIMS, Patna, was conducted w.e.f 31.01.2022 to 08.03.2022 through Non Probability Purposive Sampling Technique. The Neonatal Integrative Developmental Care Model (IDC) was used as conceptual framework. Data was collected through a self structured self reported questionnaire for knowledge assessment and a self structured principal investigator reported observation checklist for the assessment of practice. Reliability for Knowledge questionnaire was determined by Cronbach’s alpha test which was 0.7, found to be acceptable and KR₂₀ formula was used to calculate the reliability of Observation Checklist which was 0.7 with moderate reliability. Results: The major findings of the study indicated that the average mean knowledge scores (15.6 ± 5.40) of the nurses were lower than the average mean scores of practice (31.1 ± 8.40). There was a strong positive relationship between the knowledge and practice scores of the nurses calculated through Spearman Rank correlation coefficient (R = 0.56). Null hypothesis rejected. 70% Nurses had average Knowledge while only 15% nurses each had poor and good knowledge. On the other hand, 82.5% nurses had satisfactory practice skills followed by 10% having unsatisfactory skills and 7.5% having good skills. The overall distribution of knowledge scores as per work area indicated that MNICU nurses had better knowledge (17.85 ± 6.10) than PICU (17.18 ± 3.13) and SNICU nurses (10 ± 2.97); while the practices of PICU nurses (36.12 ± 9.36) were much better than the MNICU (28.46 ± 7.80) and SNICU nurses (26 ± 7.01). There was no association between the practice scores of the nurses with the demographic variables, while highly significant association was found between knowledge scores and professional qualification at p < 0.05. The study concluded that to improve the level of NICU nurses’ knowledge and performance of DSC, educational programs necessary to train and prepare the nurses in DSC for structural and functional facilities, should be developed with their effectiveness verified.