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,
  Translational Behavioral Medicine.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• 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 assess the knowledge and performance of developmentally supportive positioning for premature infants (DSPP) among neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses.
Methods
The participants in this study were 131 nurses working in the NICU at five university hospitals in Daejeon and the city of Cheong-ju. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, the t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation coefficients using SPSS for Windows version 22.0.
Results
NICU nurses’ average DSPP knowledge score was 24.7 out of 33.0, and their average DSPP performance score was 3.2 out of 4.0. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between knowledge and performance of DSPP (r=.32, p<.001).
Conclusion
To improve the level of NICU nurses’ knowledge and performance of DSPP, educational programs should be developed and their effectiveness should be verified.

Citations

• Developmentally Supportive Care Among Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurses in South Korea
  Han Na Lee, Ji Hyeon Park, Haeryun Cho
  Advances in Neonatal Care.2023; 23(3): E60.     CrossRef
• Effects of Systematic Discharge Education Program on Anxiety and Parenting Confidence in Mothers of Premature Infants
  Eunyoung Kim, Aeran Jo, Meenam Hwang, Hyunjin Moon, Daeun Jeong, Myungjin Jang, Choyeon Lim
  Journal of The Korean Society of Maternal and Chil.2023; 27(2): 71.     CrossRef
• Effects of a Neonatal Supportive Positioning Training Video Program for Preterm Infants on the Knowledge and Performance of Nurses in Neonatal Intensive Care Units
  Hyun Jin Moon, Kyung Sook Cho, Mi Young An, Dong Woo Son
  Asian Nursing Research.2022; 16(1): 25.     CrossRef
• Analysis of research on developmentally supportive care for prematurity in neonatal intensive care unit: a scoping review
  Hanna Lee, Ji Hyeon Park, Haeryun Cho
  Child Health Nursing Research.2022; 28(1): 9.     CrossRef
• Development and effectiveness of an educational program on developmental positioning for neonatal intensive care unit nurses in South Korea: a quasi-experimental study
  Eun-Ju Yun, Tae-Im Kim
  Child Health Nursing Research.2022; 28(1): 70.     CrossRef
• Factors that impact the accuracy with which nurses place preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome in the prone position
  Nur Fitri, Defi Efendi
  La Pediatria Medica e Chirurgica.2021;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Analysis of the educational needs of nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit for developmental supportive care
  Da-Ae Shin, Kyung-Sook Bang
  The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing .2021; 27(3): 261.     CrossRef
• Addressing the Needs of Mothers with Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Qualitative Secondary Analysis
  Ah Rim Kim
  Asian Nursing Research.2020; 14(5): 327.     CrossRef