Nursing Research Summary

Ahmed’s (2008) study best supports nursing interventions because the study implemented an educational program to increase breastfeeding knowledge and skills and the researcher followed up with the participants for three months post discharge. The pre-training phase of the program, which was designed to provide emotional support for the mothers, included answering questions about the preterm infant and discussing the benefits of breast milk and breastfeeding (Ahmed, 2008). The training phase of the program basic breastfeeding skills and techniques were taught using demonstration, discussion and written materials (Ahmed, 2008). The initial testing phase consisted of the mother practicing the learned skills to express milk, position the infant correctly and support the infant to maintain a correct latch (Ahmed, 2008). During the follow up phase, mothers used a self-monitoring form to document breastfeeding behaviors including any difficulties (Ahmed, 2008). Overall, this study outlines …show more content…
The researchers used a randomized control trial with the control group receiving standard nursing care and the intervention group receiving unlimited kangaroo care (Hake-Brooks & Anderson, 2008). “The computerized minimization method was used to random assignment. This method increases statistical power by decreasing between-group variance (Hake-Brooks & Anderson, 2008, p. 153).” The researchers conducted follow up telephone interviews at six weeks and three months (Hake-Brooks, 2008). In person follow up occurred at six, 12 and 18 months (Hake-Brooks & Anderson, 2008) adding to the consistency of the findings. To accurately define breastfeeding status, Hake-Brooks & Anderson (2008) used the Index of Breastfeeding Status (IBS) to provide credible and consistent results. According the Hake-Brooks & Anderson (2008), a contact log and the Index of Mother-Infant Separation (I-MIS) were used to document the amount of kangaroo