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. © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Bentham Open.