Knowledge and Attitude of Nurses Toward Developmental Care of Premature Babies in Indonesia

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess neonatal nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward developmental care, while also examining the characteristics of the nursing staff.

Method: This research employs a quantitative descriptive approach with a cross-sectional design, involving 103 respondents. Inclusion criteria specify that participants must be NICU nurses with over one year of experience. The study utilizes the Individualized Developmental Care Knowledge and Attitude Scale (2023).

Results: The findings indicate that nurses scored highest on the subscale related to Creating a Healing Environment, with an average score of 3.53 and a standard deviation of 0.58. In contrast, the subscale for Individualized Developmental Care Practices received the lowest average score, with a mean of 3.36 and a standard deviation of 0.62.

Conclusion: The results suggest that neonatal nurses demonstrate the greatest knowledge and positive attitudes towards Creating a Healing Environment, while their knowledge and attitudes towards Individualized Developmental Care Practices are comparatively lower. This underscores the need for targeted education and resources to enhance the application of developmental care in the NICU.