Promotion of self-efficacy in mothers with infants discharged from neonatal intensive care units

Introduction

The mothers of newborns who are discharged from a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience stress and anxiety due to the specialized care their child requires at home, affecting their perception of maternal self-efficacy.

Objective

To evaluate the effect of the nursing intervention called Hospital Discharge Plan (HDP) on the promotion of self-efficacy in mothers of newborns discharged from the NICU.

Method

Quantitative study, quasi-experimental design with pre-test/post-test in a single group, using the Parental Evaluation Scale applied to a convenience sample of 72 mothers of high-risk newborns from a NICU located in the city of Villavicencio (Colombia). The first measurement was taken between days 3 and 4 before discharge and at 15 days’ post-discharge. Data processing was carried out using the statistical program SPSS, version 21. The intervention was based on the four concepts of self-efficacy by Barbara Resnick.

Results

The perception of maternal self-efficacy before the intervention showed a median of 8.9 points (RI 7.6–9.5); after the intervention it showed a median of 9.6 points (RI of 10–8.7); a statistically significant p-value < 0.001 was obtained before and after the intervention with the Wilcoxon rank test.

Conclusions

Education and follow-up promoted the development of knowledge and skills in mothers for the care of high-risk newborns. This contributed to the experience of mastery and vicarious experience from the teaching-learning process and contact with the experience of other mothers, which contributes to the effective development of motherhood.