Parents' Knowledge and Cooperation Nursing Premature Newborns in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

The aim: To investigate parents' knowledge and cooperation nursing premature newborns in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The objectives: 1) Define what is premature newborn. 2) Investigate parents' knowledge and involvement in the nursing process regarding with the time spent in the unit. 3) To analyze the reasons why parents are not involved in the neonatal care process. 4) To assess, in the opinion of the parents, whether parents receive sufficient information on neonatal nursing care and what are the main sources of information they receive. Methods and object: The questionnaire consisted of 24 questions. The questionnaire survey was attended by 20 parents whose neonates are being treated at X Lithuanian Hospital in the neonatal intensive care unit. The main criteria for the participants are parents who are with newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit. The aim of the quantitative study was to find out the parents' knowledge and cooperation regarding the care of premature neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit. Relevance of the topic: It is important to educate the public and raise awareness of preterm newborns. By taking the appropriate measures, parents and medics can help a premature newborn grow healthy and happy. In this situation, parents have an infinite number of questions that they want to be answered precisely and clearly. Conclusions: From gathered information from this research, we can make a conclusion that 75% of parent’s do have adequate amount of knowledge and 25% of parents who do not participate, do not have enough knowledge about neonatal nursing care process. Most reasons parents do not participate in neonatal nursing care process are self-doubt, fear to injure and severe newborn condition. From this survey we can affirm that parents who participate in nursing care process, thinks that have enough information. Main information sources for parents are internet and neonatal nurses. Parents indicated neonatal nurse as main health care professional who provides information about neonatal nursing care.