Abstract
Background: Due to changes in funding, late preterm neonates are no longer admitted to neonatal units unless diagnosed with a specific medical condition. Consequently, neonates born at a gestational age of 35 weeks and 0 days to 36 weeks and 6 days are cared for on postnatal wards. Compared with full-term infants, late preterm neonates are at increased risk of hypothermia, hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, feeding difficulties, respiratory complications, and mortality.
Method: An educational intervention focusing on the care of the late preterm neonate was developed, and quantitative data were collected pre- and post-intervention to assess the effect on knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
Results: Of the midwives and nurses who participated, 65% (n = 13) strongly agreed and 35% (n = 7) agreed their knowledge and confidence had increased. The mean score increased from a range of 20 to 25 pre-intervention to 22 to 25 post-intervention.
Conclusion: The intervention increased the self-reported confidence and self-reported competence of participants, who also felt more supported caring for late preterm neonates.
