The Effect of a Discharge Education Program on Mother’s Preparedness for Late-Preterm Infants Discharged from the NICU: A Quasi-Experimental Study Protocol

Abstract

Background Home care of late preterm infants (LPIs) can be challenging for mothers after hospital discharge because they are more vulnerable than full-term infants and experience higher hospital admission rates. Purpose This study aims to determine the effect of a thorough and collaborative discharge education program offered by a nurse to mothers of LPIs. The program focuses on the mother’s preparedness (self-efficacy and readiness) to care for their LPIs at home after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit. Methods A quasi-experimental design will be applied in a large, accredited referral NICU in Jordan. Two groups of mothers will be enrolled using convenience sampling. The experimental group will receive the designed pre-discharge education, and the comparison group will receive routine discharge instructions for LPI care at home. The outcome will measure a mother’s self-efficacy and readiness to care for their LPI at home. Data will be compared within and between the groups before and after the intervention. An independent and paired sample t-test will be used for analysis. Results/Discussion This study will be conducted on the notion that educating mothers is a principal role for neonatal nurses and helps improve the quality of healthcare services provided to parents of vulnerable infants. Implications for Nursing The study findings will provide insight into national and global neonatal nursing practices through a thorough discharge education program for mothers with LPIs. Conclusion Publishing a research protocol encourages research transparency and allows the exchange of methodological insights and feedback between academic and clinical communities.