| Introduction: Neonatal intensive care unit induces the high level of anxiety for
mothers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of NICU orientation
program on the anxiety of mothers who had preterm newborns hospitalized in NICU.
Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial (three parallel groups).
Participants included 99 mothers with preterm newborns hospitalized in NICU of Al-
Zahra hospital, affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in 2015. Mothers
were randomly assigned to one of three groups (film, booklet, and control). Mothers
completed the State- Trait Anxiety Inventory before entering to the NICU, and then
mothers in the experiment groups became familiar with the NICU environment through
watching a film or reading booklet. After the first NICU visit, all mothers completed
the STAI and Cattell's Anxiety Questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS ver. 13
software.
Results: There was no significant difference between three groups regarding state- trait
anxiety before the intervention. After the first NICU visit, a significant reduction in
maternal state anxiety was seen in the both experiment groups. There was no statistical
significant difference regarding trait anxiety. Data obtained from Cattell's anxiety
questionnaire after intervention, showed significant difference in state anxiety between
groups.
Conclusion: Employing film and booklet orientation strategy after preterm delivery
can reduce the mother’s anxiety and beneficent for the mother, baby, family and health
care system. |