Knowledge and Practice of Nursing Students on Management of Preterm Babies

Premature babies are vulnerable to various physiological handicapped conditions with high mortality rate due to their anatomical and functional immaturity. Mortality of preterm low birth weight baby is inversely related to gestation and birth weight and directly to the severity of complication which can be prevented by proper management and care. Pre experimental one group pre test and post test design with evaluative approach was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of information booklet on management of preterm babies among the G.N.M. students of selected School of Nursing, Odisha. Data were collected from 50 G.N.M .third year students selected by purposive sampling through structured questionnaire and observational checklist. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. The overall mean post test knowledge score 14.78 was higher than the mean pre-test knowledge score 10.78 and the mean post test practice score 10.56 was higher than mean pre-test practice score 7.8. The computed value of pre and post test knowledge (t=11.51>2.01 at P=0.001) and pre and post-test practice (t=12.6>2.01 at P=0.001) showed that the post test score was significantly increased and the information booklet regarding management of preterm babies was very effective among third year G.N.M. students. The computed value (r=.477, P=0.05) showed that the co-relation among post test knowledge and practice score was positive. The result proved that information booklet on management of preterm babies prepared by the investigator has helped the third year G.N.M. students to improve their knowledge and practice on management of preterm babies.