QR Code-Supported Infant Care Education
Conditions
Keywords
Maternal self-confidence, infant care education, maternal attachment, Meleis' Transition Theory, neonatal intensive care unit
Brief summary
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of Meleis' Transitions Theory-based Quick Response (QR) code-supported infant care education on maternal self-confidence, maternal attachment, and infant health among primiparous mothers whose infants are hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group using block randomization. Mothers in the intervention group received face-to-face infant care education before discharge, a printed infant care guide containing QR codes linked to educational videos, and instructions on how to use a mobile application. Mothers in the control group received routine care and discharge education provided by the NICU. Maternal self-confidence, maternal attachment, and infant health outcomes were assessed before discharge and at one and three months after discharge. This study is expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of QR code-supported infant care education in improving maternal adaptation and infant health outcomes following NICU discharge.
Detailed description
This randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of a Quick Response (QR) code-supported infant care education program based on Meleis' Transitions Theory on maternal self-confidence, maternal attachment, and infant health among primiparous mothers of infants hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Data were collected using the Descriptive Information Form, the Pharis Self-Confidence Scale, the Maternal Attachment Scale, and the Infant Health Assessment Form. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=42) and control (n=42) groups using block randomization. Mothers in the intervention group received face-to-face infant care education based on Meleis' Transitions Theory before discharge, a printed infant care guide containing QR codes linked to educational videos, and instructions on how to use the mobile application developed for the study. Mothers in the control group received routine care and follow-up services provided by the neonatal intensive care unit. Maternal self-confidence, maternal attachment, and infant health outcomes were assessed before discharge and at one and three months after discharge. The intervention group demonstrated higher maternal self-confidence and maternal attachment scores throughout the follow-up period compared with the control group. Infants in the intervention group also showed more favorable health outcomes, including improved growth indicators, higher breastfeeding frequency, and lower rates of common health problems and hospital visits. The findings suggest that Meleis' Transitions Theory-based QR code-supported infant care education is an effective strategy for improving maternal self-confidence, maternal attachment, and infant health outcomes following NICU discharge.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALQR Code-Supported Infant Care Education
Face-to-face infant care education based on Meleis' Transitions Theory, supported by a printed infant care guide containing QR codes linked to educational videos and a mobile application developed for the study.
Sponsors
Ankara Medipol University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Primiparous mothers with a singleton birth, * Aged 18 years or older, * Able to read and communicate in Turkish, * Owning a smartphone with internet access and having sufficient digital literacy to use QR code applications, * No diagnosed psychiatric disorder, * Mothers whose infants had been hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit for at least one month, * Willing to participate and providing written informed consent, * Infants with a gestational age of ≥34 weeks, * Infants without life-threatening congenital, neurological, gastrointestinal, or genetic disorders requiring surgical intervention or expected to affect long-term prognosis.
Exclusion criteria
* Mothers who did not continue in the post-discharge follow-up period, * Participants whose mother or infant died (exitus) during the study period.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Maternal Self-Confidence | Baseline (approximately 1 week before discharge and prior to the intervention), 1 month after discharge, and 3 months after discharge | Maternal self-confidence was assessed using the Pharis Self-Confidence Scale. The scale consists of 13 items, with total scores ranging from 13 to 65. Higher scores indicate higher levels of maternal self-confidence. |
| Maternal Attachment | Baseline (approximately 1 week before discharge and prior to the intervention), 1 month after discharge, and 3 months after discharge | Maternal attachment was assessed using the Maternal Attachment Scale. The scale consists of 26 items, with total scores ranging from 26 to 104. Higher scores indicate higher levels of maternal attachment. |
| Infant Health | Baseline (approximately 1 week before discharge and prior to the intervention), 1 month after discharge, and 3 months after discharge | Infant health assessed using the Infant Health Assessment Form, including physical growth (weight, length, and head circumference), breastfeeding, urination and stool frequency, non-breastmilk feeding, common infant health problems (gas, fever, vomiting, oral thrush, diaper rash, nasal congestion), and hospital visits |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORAslınur T GÜZELYAZICI
Ankara Medipol University
Outcome results
None listed