Improvement in knowledge of nursing staff after an educational intervention about control of newborn temperature.

ABSTRACT

UNLABELLED Newborn infants are at risk for hypothermia. Providing an adequate thermal environment is fundamental OBJECTIVE: To assess nurses knowledge about temperature control in newborns before and after an educational intervention and its effect in the prevalence of hypothermia. METHODS: Registered nurses working in a NICU received an educational intervention. They answered a pretest and posttest. Prevalence of hypothermia was recorded. RESULTS: Subjects included 55 nurses (89% females, 11% males). The subjects showed improvement in knowledge (81% correct answers before. 88% after, p < 0.01) Prevalence of hypothermia was similar before and after the intervention. CONCLUSION: An educational intervention in small group format was successful in improving nurse knowledge about temperature control in newborns. There was no effect in the prevalence of hypothermia. The intervention was aimed to registered nurses but neonatal hypothermia prevention requires interactions by all caregivers, thus educational interventions should be aimed to all personnel involved in neonatal care.