• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.1451-1460
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• 2005

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the premature infants' responses to infant massage (tactile and kinesthetic stimulation). These responses measured by weight, physiological (vagal tone, heart rate, oxygen saturation) and behavioral responses (behavioral states, motor activities, and behavioral distress). Methods. This study was conducted using an equivalent control pretest-posttest design. The sample was divided into two groups of 13 infants with gestational age less than 36 weeks at birth, birth weight less than 2000g, and no congenital anomalies. The experimental group received the massage intervention twice daily for 10 days. The data were collected for 10 minutes prior to and 10 minutes after the massage. Results. The vagal tone was significantly higher after massage than before massage in the experimental group, while no change in the control group. The experimental group had significantly higher scores for awake state and motor activity than the control group. Significantly greater awake state, more fidgeting or crying, and increased motor activity were reported after massage than before massage. Conclusions. The results of this study showed that massage therapy might enhance optimal physiological responses and behavioral organization of premature infants. Nursing staff in the NICU can use massage to promote the infant's capability to respond positively to his environment and to provide developmental support for healthy premature infants.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.199-206
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to monitor the development of Korean premature infant at six-month age and to explore factors related to developmental status of the premature infants. Methods: Participants were 58 premature infants whose corrected age was six-months old and their mothers. The developmental states of infants were followed-up with the Korean Prescreening Developmental Questionnaire (KPDQ-II). Clinical characteristics of the infants were identified from the medical records. Other characteristics including Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, husband's support, social support, and mother-infant attachment were assessed using self-report questionnaires from the mothers. Results: Forty three percent of the infants were in the group of questionable status of development on the KPDQ-II. There were significant differences between the premature infants with normal developmental status and those with questionable developmental status depending on gender ($x^2$=5.03, p=.034), gestational age (t=2.59, p=.012), hospital stay (p=.013), revised Neurobiologic Risk Score (p=.005) and mother-infant attachment score (t=2.12, p=.040). Conclusion: Mother-infant attachment, as well as physiological state of premature infants, is an important variable in early development. Therefore, early monitoring for the development has to be done for physiologically vulnerable premature groups. Also, providing proper nursing support to improve maternal attachment needs to be considered.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.191-200
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that may affect quality of life of mothers who delivered premature infants. Methods: With survey design, data were collected from 145 mothers of premature infants with corrected age of 2 months to 12 months from January 9 to February 2, 2017. Quality of life was assessed with two measures of direct survey in the selected hospital and online survey. A self-report questionnaire was administered regarding personality of the mothers and the infants, postpartum depression, parenting stress, social support, and the quality of life. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. Results: The quality of life of the mothers of the premature infants was influenced by postpartum depression, parenting stress, parents-infant dysfunctional interactions, and social support accounted for 65% of the variance. Conclusion: These results indicate that early screening and continuous management of postpartum depression during postpartum period are important to improve the quality of life of the mothers of the premature infants. Education program and information and social support systems need to be developed to monitor mother-infant interaction and their role development.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.210-218
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• 2009

Purpose: The existing web sites for premature babies are operated by non professionals and thus do not provide any medical or professional information necessary for rearing premature babies. The purpose is to construct a new website with lots of medical and professional tips for premature babies. Methods: First, topics of discussions are collected from the bulletin boards of three websites, operated by non professionals, for premature babies. And new website for premature babies is constructed based on the identified topics and also based on professional consultation with six professors. Results: The newly constructed website provides professional tips for the above topics as well as introduction of it's object, general medical information and baby rearing information and the bulletin board for parents of premature babies. Conclusion: By providing professional tips for mothers of premature babies, the new website is expected to provide detailed, accurate and professional information on issues most parents of premature babies concern.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.299-305
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• 2009

Purpose: Multiple studies have documented that high resting levels of cardiac vagal tone suggest higher levels of self-regulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiac vagal tone as an indicator of autonomic nervous function in healthy newborn and premature infants. Methods: This study was conducted using a descriptive comparison design and a convenience sampling strategy. The participants were 72 healthy and 62 premature infants delivered in a university hospital. Continuous heart rate data recordings from the infant's ECG were analyzed and Mxedit software was used to calculate mean heart period and an index of cardiac vagal tone. Results: The healthy infants had significantly higher cardiac vagal tone than the premature infants, when the influence of gestational age was removed using analysis of covariance. However, there were no significant differences in heart rate and heart period between the two groups when the influence of gestational age was removed using analysis of covariance. Conclusion: The results of this study show that cardiac vagal tone may be used as an index for determining infant's autonomic nervous function. Nursing staff in pediatric departments can use cardiac vagal tone with ease, as this index can be calculated in a noninvasive method from the ECG.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.308-320
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the predictive factors for maternal role development for mothers of premature infants. Methods: A descriptive correlational study was conducted. A total sample of 121 mothers of premature infants following discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit were recruited using two strategies; an internet-based survey and an in-person data collection in a tertiary university hospital in Korea. A self-report questionnaire was used to collect data regarding personal, birth variables, marital intimacy, maternal attachment, maternal identity and maternal role development. Results: A hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that parity, maternal attachment, marital intimacy and maternal identity were predictors for maternal role development for mothers of premature infants, accounting for 70% of the variance. Among these variables, maternal attachment is the most powerful predictor for maternal role development. Conclusion: Nursing interventions during hospitalization to post-discharge education that includes parents of premature babies with positive interaction between couples strengthening marital intimacy and promotes maternal attachment that leads to integrate maternal identity should be considered by priority. Community-based family services such as home visits should be focused on maximizing the predictive factors for maternal role development in transition to motherhood that can contribute to maternal health as well as optimal growth and development of premature infants.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.21 no.2 s.24
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• pp.207-216
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• 1988

Premature rupture of membrane is the most frequent cause of low birth weight infant delivery which increase the maternal and fetal morbidity and perinatal mortality. A retrospective case-control study was performed on 315 mothers who delivered low birth weight infants($\leq$2.5kg) with premature rupture of membrane and as control group 546 mothers who delivered normal birth weight infants(2.9-3.7kg) without premature rupture of membrane were chosen. The results obtained from this study were as follows: 1. The proportion of low birth weight infants due to premature rupture of membrane among all low birth weight infant deliveries was 14.5%, and this is equivalent to 1.1% among all deliveries. 2. The most significant maternal risk factor of low birth weight infant deliveries with premature rupture of membrane was infections on vagina, cervix and uterus during pregnancy. Compared with control, adjusted odds ratio was 7.61(95% confidence interval(CI) 1.88-30.88, p=0.004). Other significant maternal risk factors were the history of induced abortion, spontaneous abortion, and the experience of premature delivery. The risk ratios were 1.82, 2.07, 4.42, respectively. 3. Breech presentation did increase the risk of low birth weight infant delivery with premature rupture of membrane compared with control(Adjusted Odds ratio=2.66, 95% CI 1.35-5.26, p=0.005). 4. Mothers who had not taken antenatal care were having higher risk of low birth weight infant delivery with premature rupture of membrane against control(Adjusted odds ratio=1.73, 95% CI 1.19-2.53, p=0.004). These study results show that maternal factors such as the infection of genital organs during pregnancy, the history of induced abortion and breech presentation are significantly associated with the premature rupture of membrane in the low birth weight deliveries, and that most of these risk factors are controllable ones through proper antenatal cares.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.58-67
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• 2018

Purpose: This prospective study aimed to examine the development of premature infants at 12 and 24 months and to explore the factors related to their development. Methods: Of the 80 premature infants who were recruited, 52 participants at 12 months and 31 participants at 24 months were included in this study. The development of the infants was examined using the Korean Bayley scale of infant development-II. Postnatal depression, husband's support, social support, mother-infant attachment, and the home environment were assessed using self-report questionnaires completed by the mothers and through the researcher's observations. Results: There was significant difference between normal and delay group at psychomotor development at 12 months depending on social support at 6 months (t=2.03, p=.049). Mother-infant attachment at 6 months (r=.71, p<.001), 12 months (r=.37, p=.043), and 24 months (r=.40, p=.026), as well as social support (r=.38, p=.034) and the home environment (r=.41, p=.022) at 24 months, were correlated to mental development at 24 months. There was a significant positive correlation between mother-infant attachment at 6 months and psychomotor development at 24 months (r=.40, p=.046). Conclusion: To reduce the risk of developmental delay and to promote healthy development in premature infants, early nursing interventions targeting mother-infant attachment, the home environment, and the mother's social support structure are needed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.152-160
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• 2008

Purpose: It has been attempted to support mother of premature infants by providing information of premature infant care using e-Learning because premature infants need continuous care from birth to after discharge. Method: The e-Learning Program for mother of premature was developed with Xpert, Namo web editor, Adobe Photoshop, and PowerPoint and applied for 4 weeks from 4 to 30 September 2006. Result: 1) We found that the contents of information which premature infants' need when being in the hospital and after discharge were the definition of a premature infant, orientation of NICU, care of premature infants, care of premature infants' common diseases, the connection of healthcare resources, exchange of information, and the management of rearing stress. 2) The program content consisted of cause of premature birth, comparison to full-term baby, physiology character, orientation of NICU, common health problems, follow up care, infection control, feeding, normal development physically and mentally, weaning method, and vaccination. Conclusion: Considering the results, this program for mother of premature is a useful means to provide premature-care information to mothers. This information can be readily accessible and can be varied and complex enough to be able to help mothers to the information and assistance they require.

• 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.