Date of Award

10-31-2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MScN)

First Advisor

Dr Rafat Jahan

Second Advisor

Ms. Khairunissa Hooda

Third Advisor

Ms. Marina Baig

Department

School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Breast milk is essential for the growth and immunity of premature and critically ill infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Despite its benefits, providing effective lactation support in NICUs is challenging and requires specialized knowledge. Nurses and midwives, as frontline caregivers of NICU, have limited training in lactation, creating a need for targeted educational interventions.
Purpose: To increase the expertise of NICU nurses and midwives in a tertiary care hospital to support lactation, this study set out to develop and evaluate a lactation education module.
Method: A quasi-experimental design was used, with 50 NICU nurses and midwives participating in a structured pre-test/post-test evaluation. Baseline knowledge was assessed using a pre-test that measured understanding of lactation benefits, challenges in the NICU, and evidence-based practices. Following the pre-test, participants underwent a structured lactation module, after which a post-test with identical questions was administered to assess knowledge acquisition. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests to evaluate the module's effectiveness.
Finding(s): The pre-test results revealed that most participants scored in the 26-50% range, with a mean score of 58%, highlighting knowledge gaps in NICU lactation practices. Post-test results demonstrated significant improvement, with the majority scoring within the 76-100% range. The mean score increased substantially, and the paired t-test analysis showed a statistically significant knowledge gain (p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis indicated that participants with less professional experience (< 5 years) and no prior lactation training benefited most from the module.
Conclusion: The lactation education module effectively enhanced knowledge among NICU nurses and midwives, addressing critical gaps in lactation support for vulnerable infants. This pilot study underscores the importance of tailored educational programs in improving NICU practices and suggests potential benefits for wider implementation across tertiary care hospitals. Further research is recommended to evaluate long-term retention and its impact on clinical practices.

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Last Page

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