Effect of Preventive Updating Guidelines on Improving Nurses' Knowledge and Practice toward Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death among healthy born babies worldwide. Its causes are still vague, but its risk can be minimized by performing some simple active interventions. In Egypt, the Ministry of Health and Population has presented limited attention to SIDS and no real data are available on the practice of nurses on this topic. This study explored for nurses’ knowledge and practice about SIDS and how to reduce its risks.Therefore, this study aimed at evaluating the effect of the preventive updating guideline on improvingnurses' knowledge and practice toward sudden infant death syndrome in Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Method: A quasi-experimental design (one group pre and post)was utilized in this study.Setting:The study was carried out inNICU affiliated to Mansoura University Children’s Hospital (MUCH), Mansoura city, Egypt.Subjects:The subjects of the study comprised of all nurses working and providing direct nursing care for neonate in NICU. Tools: A Self-administering questionnaire was used throughout the study phases for evaluating nurses’ knowledge andobservational checklist was used to assess nurses’ practice concerning recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Safe Sleep Practices (SSP). Results: It was showed a significant increase from pre-to post implementation in nurses' knowledge and practice of AAP updating guideline for SIDS prevention (p<0. 001), in addition to, total nurses’ knowledge score raised among 95 % of nurses to a good score. Moreover, total nurses’ practices scores improved among 88.3 % of nurses to satisfactory score.Conclusion:This study concluded that there was an improvement in the nurses' knowledge and practice after implementation of preventive updating guidelines towards SIDS in NICU. Recommendations:Educational planned guidelines about SIDS prevention is highly recommended to be applied in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and other pediatric departments. In addition to continuous monitoring for nurses’ feedback about their best practices to prevent SIDS in NICU.