Tayebeh Reyhani - Evidence Based Care Research Centre, Instructor of Nursing, Department of Pediatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Tayebeh Hoseinzadeh - MSc Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mohammad Hydarzadeh - Associate professor of Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
Hamidreza Behnam Vashani - Evidence Based Care Research Centre, Instructor of Nursing, Department of Pediatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Background: Intraventricular hemorrhages and respiratory distress syndrome are two common diseases in preterm infants. Observation-based care, may reduce the rate of these complications through energy saving, diminishing apnea periods and cerebral blood flow changes. Aim: to evaluate the effect of behavior observation-based care training for mothers on intraventricular hemorrhages and ventilation period. Methods: In this two-group clinical trial, 70 infants with gestation age of less than 32 weeks were observed in neonate intensive care unit of Omolbanin Hospital, 2014. In the intervention group, the mothers and nurses received training in infant behavior and care program, and preterm infants’ behavior were observed and recorded by means of Assessment of Preterm Infants’ Behavior. At the end of the intervention, incidence of cerebral hemorrhage and the hours of ventilation were recorded. The data were analyzed performing independent t-test, Chi-square and Pearson correlation coefficient, using SPSS. Results: The mean gestational age for the intervention and control groups were 29.7±1.7 and 29.6±1.7 weeks, respectively. The incidence of cerebral hemorrhage was 54.3% (19 cases) for the control group and 22.9% (8 cases) for the intervention group. The Chi-square test showed a significant relationship between the two groups (P=0.01). The mean ventilation period was 28.8±14.7 days for the intervention group and 17.3±8.6 for the control group. The results of independent t-test demonstrated a significant relationship between the two groups (P<0.001). Conclusion: The implementation of care training programs for mothers, based on behavior of premature infants, lowers the incidence of cerebral hemorrhage and ventilation period. Conducting this program is recommended to reduce prematurity complications.

Developmental care, Intraventricular hemorrhage, Preterm infant, respiratory distress syndrome