• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.335-342
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• 2009

Purpose: This study, using a pre-post test design of non-equivalence comparative group, was done to determine effects of Kangaroo care (KC) on growth in premature infants and on maternal attachment (MA). Methods: Fifty-three premature infants were assigned to the KC (24) or control group (CG) (29). Data were collected from July 2007 to June 2008. KC was given for 60 min at a time, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for 10 times. Weight, height, and head circumference (HC) of premature infants were checked before the program started. Following the initial measurement, the program was given and measurements were taken again at the end of the program. For measurement of attachment between mother and infant, data collection was done using structured self-reported questionnaires. Results: KC group had a higher weight (t=2.565, p=.013), height (t=2.182, p=.034) and HC (t=2.468, p=.017) than the CG. Compared to the CG, the KC had significantly higher scores in MA (t=2.026, p=.048). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the practice of KC in the nursing environment might actively promote attachment between mother and infant as well as acceleration of growth for premature infants as one of the most efficient nursing intervention.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.299-308
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• 2016

Purpose: To investigate the perception and barriers of Kangaroo-Mother Care (KMC) among nurses in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). Methods: Participants were 131 nurses working in NICU who completed self-report questionnaires which included information regarding perception, barriers, and practice of KMC. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0 program for descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: Of the participants, 33.6% reported the practice of KMC in their NICU, with 75.6% wanting to receive training in KMC and 31.3% having received KMC education. Most of the participants agreed that KMC enhances attachment, parental confidence, and effective breast feeding but they reported a negative perception in providing KMC for premature infants weighing less than 1000 grams or intubated premature infants. Major barriers to practicing KMC were safety of infants, possible work overload for nurses, as well as absence of consistent guidelines. Barriers to KMC among nurses who received the KMC training were lower than nurses who did not receive the KMC training (t=-2.11, p=.037). Conclusion: Education program and standardized clinical practice protocol should be developed to foster the positive perception and to reduce nurse barriers to KMC.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate nursing students' knowledge and beliefs about Kangaroo care (KC). Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used. Undergraduate students enrolled in departments of nursing (n=322) from three universities in D city participated. Knowledge and beliefs about KC were measured using the Kangaroo Care Questionnaire (KCQ). Results: The overall level of nursing students' knowledge about KC was very low with a mean score of 6.9 out of 17. The mean score for nursing students' beliefs about KC was 87.4 out of 100, indicating relatively positive beliefs. The students who had both education and exposure to KC had higher scores for knowledge and more positive beliefs about KC compared to students with no experience or exposure to KC. There was a positive correlation between knowledge and beliefs about KC (r=.371, p<.001). Conclusion: The results suggest that there is a need to develop educational programs for nursing students in order to increase their knowledge and develop positive beliefs about KC.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.599-610
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• 2016

This paper reports the results of a systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis research to compare the effect of Kangaroo care, targeting mothers and premature infants. A randomized clinical trial study was performed until February 2015. The domestic literature contained the non-randomized clinical trial research without restriction according to the level of the study design. A search of the Ovid-Medline, CINAHL, PubMed and KoreaMed, the National Library of KOREA, the National Assembly Library, NDSL, KISS and RISS. Through the KMbase we searched and combined the main term ((kangaroo OR KC OR skin-to-skin) AND (care OR contact)) AND (infant OR preterm OR Low Birth Weight OR LBW), ((kangaroo OR kangaroo OR kangaroo) AND (care OR nursing care OR management OR skin contact)) was made; these were all combined with a keywords search through the selection process. They were excluded in the final 25 studies (n=3051). A methodology checklist for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) designed by SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) was utilized to assess the risk of bias. The overall risk of bias was regarded as low. In 16 studies that were evaluated as a grade of "++", 9 studies were evaluated as a grade of "+". As a result of meta-analysis, kangaroo care regarding the effects of premature mortality, severe infection/sepsis had an insignificant effect. Hyperthermia incidence, growth and development (height and weight), mother-infant attachment, hypothermia incidence, length of hospital days, breast feeding rate, sleeping, anxiety, confidence, and gratification of mothering role were considered significant. In satisfaction of the role performance, depression and stress presented contradictory research results for individual studies showing overall significant difference. This study has some limitations due to the few RCTs comparing kangaroo care in the country. Therefore, further RCTs comparing kangaroo care should be conducted.