Purpose
This study aimed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program on developmental positioning (EPDP) for nurses in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
Methods
The study utilized a non-equivalent control group pretestposttest design. Sixty NICU nurses were recruited from two university hospitals in Daejeon, South Korea. The EPDP consisted of a 7-week program: 3 weeks of education and practice, followed by 4 weeks of encouragement messages using social networking services. Developmental positioning (DP) posters and DP aids were also provided during the intervention period. The intervention group (n=30) received the EPDP, but not the control group. The data were analyzed using the x2 test, the Fisher exact test, the independent t-test, and repeated-measures analysis of variance.
Results
Participants' knowledge (t=7.49, p<.001), attitudes (t=1.99, p=.001), self-efficacy (t=2.99, p=.004), performance of DP (t=2.98, p=.004) and Infant Positioning Assessment Tool (IPAT) scores (F=29.50, p<.001) were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group.
Conclusion
The EPDP can be an effective and useful program for improving the performance of DP among NICU nurses by increasing their knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy of DP. However, further research involving various NICU settings is needed to gather more empirical evidence.

Citations

• The knowledge, attitude and practice of nurses on the posture management of premature infants: status quo and coping strategies
  Xiaojue Zhong, Shanshan Cai, Huiyun Wang, Longyan Wu, Yanan Sun
  BMC Health Services Research.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Reported use of implementation science theories, models, and frameworks in 151 implementation trials: secondary analysis of a systematic review targeting nursing practice
  Charlene Weight, Rachael Laritz, Simonne E Collins, Meagan Mooney, Billy Vinette, Sonia A Castiglione, Nicola Straiton, Gabrielle Chicoine, Shuang Liang, Justin Presseau, Kristin Konnyu, Marie-Pierre Gagnon, Sonia Semenic, Sandy Middleton, Natalie Taylor,
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• The effect of comprehensive developmental positioning program training on nurses’ performance and infant comfort hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit
  Tina Karami, Afsaneh Arzani, Ali Zabihi, Hossein-Ali Nikbakht, Zahra Akbarian rad, Seyedeh Roghayeh Jafarian amiri
  BMC Medical Education.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Maternal Participation in Sensory Care of Preemies: A Pilot Study Examining the Effect on Neonatal Outcome in NICU
  Renilda Shanthi Lobo, Theresa Leonilda Mendonca
  Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU.2024; 14(02): 202.     CrossRef
• Developmental care education in Australian surgical neonatal intensive care units: A cross-sectional study of nurses’ perceptions
  Nadine Griffiths, Sharon Laing, Kaye Spence, Maralyn Foureur, Himanshu Popat, Leah Hickey, Lynn Sinclair
  Heliyon.2024; 10(10): e30572.     CrossRef
• Effectiveness of Nicu nurses’ competence enhancement program for developmentally supportive care for preterm infants: A quasi-experimental study
  Han Na Lee, Haeryun Cho
  Heliyon.2023; 9(1): e12944.     CrossRef
• Effects of a Noncontact Visit Program in the NICU for the Prevention of COVID-19
  Hye Young Ahn, Hee Jee Jo, Hyun Jeong Ko
  Healthcare.2023; 11(15): 2152.     CrossRef

Purpose
This study was conducted to investigate the educational needs for practicing neonatal intensive care among Korean nursing students.
Methods
An explorative, sequential, mixed-methods design was used. Qualitative content analysis was conducted of in-depth interviews of six nursing students, five clinical practice faculty members, and five nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit. The results of a survey of 174 nursing students were analyzed quantitatively.
Results
Nursing students, clinical practice faculty members, and nurses wanted opportunities for direct nursing practice and education in school during neonatal intensive care practice. In terms of specific educational content, nursing students expressed the highest observation-related educational needs for communication with medical team members, and they expressed the highest practice-related educational needs for operating medical equipment used for neonatal intensive care. The nursing students' needs with regard to the method of practice education were highest for orientation from the head nurses.
Conclusion
Communication and operating medical equipment were found to be areas with high educational needs for practicing neonatal intensive care among Korean nursing students. Further research is needed to develop an educational framework and setting for practicing neonatal intensive care that would meet their needs.

Citations

• Tutoring experiences of a high-risk newborn care simulation among nurse tutors and nursing student tutees in South Korea: a qualitative study
  Hyun Young Koo, Bo Ryeong Lee, Hyeran An
  Child Health Nursing Research.2025; 31(1): 40.     CrossRef
• Using Backward Design to Develop a Neonatal Course for Baccalaureate Nursing Students
  Kailey Rinaldi, Rebecca Koerner
  Nurse Educator.2024; 49(5): E299.     CrossRef
• Conceptualising a wellbeing-centred approach to neonatal nursing education: A discussion paper
  Jane Staples, Makaylah Starkey, Kendall Davis
  Journal of Neonatal Nursing.2024; 30(5): 424.     CrossRef
• The effect of peer tutoring on pediatric nursing education: a systematic review
  Hyun Young Koo, Hyeran An, Bo Ryeong Lee
  Child Health Nursing Research.2024; 30(4): 215.     CrossRef
• Development of a virtual reality program in South Korea for the measurement of vital signs in children: a methodological study
  Sun Nam Park, Hye Young Hwang, Hyun Young Koo
  Child Health Nursing Research.2023; 29(2): 137.     CrossRef
• Association between Parity and Preterm Birth—Retrospective Analysis from a Single Center in Poland
  Monika Szyszka, Ewa Rzońca, Sylwia Rychlewicz, Grażyna Bączek, Daniel Ślęzak, Patryk Rzońca
  Healthcare.2023; 11(12): 1763.     CrossRef
• Development and evaluation of case video-based debriefing on a simulation of high-risk neonatal care for nursing students in South Korea: a mixed-methods study
  Hyun Young Koo, Bo Ryeong Lee, Hyeran An
  BMC Nursing.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Development of a Project-Based Learning Program on High-Risk Newborn Care for Nursing Students and Its Effects: A Quasi-Experimental Study
  Hyun-Young Koo, Young-Eun Gu, Bo-Ryeong Lee
  International Journal of Environmental Research an.2022; 19(9): 5249.     CrossRef
• Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Neonatal Nursing Practicum and Extended Reality Simulation Training Needs: A Descriptive and Cross-Sectional Study
  Sun-Yi Yang
  International Journal of Environmental Research an.2022; 20(1): 344.     CrossRef