Neonatal intensive care nurses’ knowledge and beliefs regarding kangaroo care in China: a national survey

Abstract

ObjectiveKangaroo care (KC), a well-established parent-based intervention in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), with documented benefits for infants and their parents. However, in China there remains a lack of knowledge and a reluctance to implement KC in hospitals. Therefore, our aim was to investigate the current knowledge, beliefs and practices regarding KC among NICU nurses in China using the ‘Kangaroo Care Questionnaire’.MethodsA quantitative descriptive survey was designed. This questionnaire comprised 90 items classified according to four domains: knowledge, practice, barriers and perception. Data were analysed using SPSS V.20.0, and content analysis was used to summarise data derived from open-ended questions.ResultsThe survey involved 861 neonatal nurses from maternity and general hospitals across China (response rate=95.7%). The findings showed that 47.7% (n=411) of the nurses had participated in the implementation of KC. Neonatal nurses in the ‘experienced in KC’ group showed an overall better understanding of KC and its benefits with a higher ‘correct response’ rate than those in the ‘not experienced in KC’ group. In the ‘experienced in KC’ group, over 90% considered KC beneficial to the parent-baby relationship and attachment, and over 80% believed that KC positively affected outcomes of preterm infants. The ‘not experienced in KC’ group perceived more barriers to KC implementation than did the ‘experienced in KC’ group.ConclusionAlthough most nurses working in NICUs in China were aware of the benefits of KC, there remain substantial barriers to its routine use in practice. Education for both staff and parents is necessary, as is the provision of appropriate facilities and policies to support parents in providing this evidence-based intervention.

Neonatal nurses’ knowledge and beliefs about kangaroo mother care in neonatal intensive care units: A descriptive, cross‐sectional study

“…However, none of these hospitals practiced KMC in their NICU at the time of data collection. This could explain why, as opposed to others who reported a significant association between positive attitude and KMC practice (Vittner, Cong, Ludington‐Hoe, & McGrath, ; Zhang et al, ), our results did not report a significant association between these two variables.…”

“…Overall, the majority of participants reported favorable beliefs toward KMC, and agreed that KMC has a positive effect on parenting and the attachment process and the potential to increase the quality of care in their units. This finding is supported by many previous studies in other countries, including Brazil (Silva, Barros, & Nascimento, ), China (Zhang et al, ), and South Africa (Solomons & Rosant, ). Despite the strong belief of the majority of nurses about the benefits of KMC for both infants and their mothers, concerns remain regarding the feasibility and safety of this care approach for some infants.…”

“…It has been documented that nurses who have sufficient knowledge of KMC and positive beliefs toward it were more willing to support the implementation of this care approach in their units (Solomons & Rosant, ; Zhang et al, ). As nurses are in the best position to support this care approach in NICU, it is crucial to assess their knowledge and beliefs before any planned implementation strategies, which can in turn promote greater compliance.…”

Utilization pattern of kangaroo mother care after introduction in eight selected neonatal intensive care units in China

“…In addition to our reported findings, our interviews with medical and nursing staff (not included in the current analysis) consistently found positive views of KMC benefit and safety, with common reports from staff that length of hospitalization among preterms was reduced following KMC introduction and increasing implementation. Our speculation appears to be in line with a recently reported national survey of NICU nurses finding increasing KMC implementation experience was associated with substantially greater nurse acceptance and perceived benefits of KMC [20].…”

Utilization pattern of kangaroo mother care after introduction in eight selected neonatal intensive care units in China

“…In addition to our reported findings, our interviews with medical and nursing staff (not included in the current analysis) consistently found positive views of KMC benefit and safety, with common reports from staff that length of hospitalization among preterms was reduced following KMC introduction and increasing implementation. Our speculation appears to be in line with a recently reported national survey of NICU nurses finding increasing KMC implementation experience was associated with substantially greater nurse acceptance and perceived benefits of KMC [18].…”