The mediating effect of pregnancy adaptation between family support and maternal-fetal bonding: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Establishing a nurturing bond with the unborn child is essential for expectant mothers throughout pregnancy. While the influence of family support and pregnancy adaptation on maternal-fetal bonding is evident, these factors remain unexplored in the early stages of pregnancy. This study aims to elucidate the dynamic interaction between family support, pregnancy adaptation, and maternal-fetal bonding during the first trimester, explicitly investigating the mediating role of pregnancy adaptation. METHOD: A cross-sectional design was conducted to recruit expectant mothers between 8 and 12 weeks of gestation without significant complications. RESULTS: Family support and pregnancy adaptation emerged as significant predictors of maternal-fetal bonding, and pregnancy adaptation mediated the relationship between family support and maternal-fetal bonding in the first trimester. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms the critical role of family support and pregnancy adaptation in facilitating maternal-fetal bonding during early pregnancy, with pregnancy adaptation fully mediating this relationship. Healthcare providers are encouraged to involve family members in early interventions, focusing on assessing family support and engaging them in education and activities to strengthen the emotional bond between the mother and her unborn child.

The impact of prenatal depression and diabetes management self-efficacy on postpartum stress and depression in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: The study aimed to examine the impact of prenatal depression and diabetes management self-efficacy on postpartum stress and postpartum depression in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. BACKGROUND: Poor perinatal mental health is linked to various adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. DESIGNS: A predictive study design and the guidelines for the STROBE checklist were used for the study. METHODS: A total of 119 pregnant women with a positive 75 g-glucose challenge test were recruited at a medical centre. The Taiwanese depression questionnaire (TDQ), the diabetes management self-efficacy scale (DMSES) and the Hung postpartum stress scale (Hung PSS) were used for data collection at the 24th week of pregnancy and the first week after childbirth. RESULTS: Diabetes management self-efficacy was correlated with postpartum stress in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Moreover, prenatal depression was a predictor of postpartum stress and postpartum depression, respectively, in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare providers should assess those women's diabetes management self-efficacy and mood status during prenatal visits and offer the needed intervention to reduce the levels of postpartum stress and postpartum depression of those women after childbirth. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: A holistic care approach integrated diabetic care and mental health for women with gestational diabetes mellitus in a timely manner is warranted to promote perinatal mental health in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Risk factors for women with gestational diabetes mellitus developing type 2 diabetes and the impact on children's health.

AIM: The study aimed to explore the risk factors for progression to type 2 diabetes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus and the long-term impact of gestational diabetes mellitus on the health of their children. BACKGROUND: The occurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus in women is the strongest predictor of the development of type 2 diabetes in the future. DESIGN: A non-concurrent cohort and case-control study design and the guidelines for STROBE checklist were used for the study. METHODS: We reviewed medical records for the time period from the archives of the hospitals. The short-listed women and their children were invited to participate in a 'Women with gestational diabetes mellitus' research activity from November 2012-February 2016. Blood tests, physiological indicators and demographic questionnaires were applied for data collection. RESULTS: A total of 57 women and 57 children participated in the research activity. The risk factors for progression of gestational diabetes mellitus to type 2 diabetes included education level and the 1-h blood glucose level for the antepartum 100-g oral glucose tolerance test and the 2-h blood glucose level for the postpartum 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. However, these risk factors did not have a significant impact on the body mass index and body fat of the women's children. CONCLUSION: Healthcare providers should adopt a breadth of health education strategies to remind women with gestational diabetes mellitus to be aware of certain risk factors, and to urge them and their children to return for regular follow-up visits. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Identification of the risk factors developing type 2 diabetes can make healthcare units incorporate the postpartum follow-up of gestational diabetes mellitus into their standard protocol and case managers continue to follow-up and manage the health of the women and that of their children to reduce adverse health of them.

[Multimedia Health Education on Insulin Injection Skills for Patients With Type 2 Diabetes].

BACKGROUND: Multimedia health education may be applied to improve self-care behaviors in patients. However, the long-term effects of multimedia health education on insulin injection performance have been insufficiently studied. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of a multimedia insulin pen-injector health education intervention on patients in terms of their insulin injection skills and glycated hemoglobin level and the time spent by nurses on insulin injection education. METHODS: Using a randomized controlled trial and two-group repeated-measures study design, patients with type 2 diabetes who were novice users of a Lantus, Levemir, or Novomix pen injector were recruited. A total of 72 patients, comprising 36 in a control group and 36 in an experimental group, participated in the study. The participants' injection skills were photographed using a smart phone. RESULTS: Patients in the experimental group earned higher scores for attaching a new needle, removing air bubbles, selecting the required dose, selecting a suitable injection site (abdomen, arms, thigh, or buttocks), and injection performance skills than those in the control group. However, no significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of HbA1c levels at 13 weeks after discharge. The time spent by nurses on delivering health education to the experimental group was 0.38 times that of the time spent on the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Multimedia health education may not only enhance patients' self-injection skills but also save on human resources and nursing hours. The findings of this study may provide references for healthcare providers in educating patients with diabetes regarding self-administering insulin pen injections.

Women's trajectories of postpartum depression and social support: A repeated-measures study with implications for evidence-based practice.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression is one of the most common psychological disorders of women after childbirth. Despite the importance of social support as an influencing factor, there have been few studies on the trends and characteristics of social support as it relates to postpartum depression. AIMS: To explore the trends in postpartum depression and social support, to cross-analyze the correlation between the postpartum depression trajectory and the social support trajectory, and to investigate predictors of changes in postpartum depression trajectories. METHODS: A prospective repeated-measure study and convenience sampling were used to recruit 230 women at 1, 3, and 6 months after childbirth. Structured questionnaires were used for data collection. Trajectory analysis was used to explore the trajectories of postpartum depression and social support during the 6 months after childbirth, and polynomial logistic regression was used to explore predictors of the trajectory of postpartum depression. RESULTS: Postpartum depression was at its most serious in the third month after childbirth, showing patterns of low-risk, moderate-risk, and high-risk trajectories. Social support also showed low, moderate, and high patterns, and the trajectory of postpartum depression was significantly related to the trajectory of social support. The predictors of moderate-risk and high-risk postpartum depression were also found in this study. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Postpartum mental health education and online learning systems should be used to increase social support for women after childbirth and reduce the incidence of postpartum depression.

Factors associated with quality of life in patients with diabetic hypoglycaemia.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To identify determinants of quality of life among patients who had experienced hypoglycaemia and who were undergoing insulin treatment. BACKGROUND: Patients with diabetes receiving insulin treatment are at high risk for hypoglycaemia, which tends to affect their quality of life. DESIGN: With a cross-sectional and observational study design (see the STROBE checklist and Appendix S1). METHODS: One hundred and fifty patients with type 2 diabetes who had received insulin treatment and had experienced hypoglycaemia (<70 mg/dl) in the last 6 months were recruited. Data were collected from May 2016-February 2018 using the Knowledge of Hypoglycaemia Scale, Fear of Hypoglycaemia Scale, Social Support Scale and the simplified Taiwanese version of the Quality of Life Scale developed by the World Health Organization. RESULTS: Factors found to be associated with quality of life in patients with hypoglycaemia included having an educational level of senior high school or above, being on an insulin regimen only, engaging in regular exercise, diabetes complications, fear of hypoglycaemia and greater social support, which accounted for 28.5% of the total variance. CONCLUSIONS: During the process of glycaemic control, patients inevitably experience hypoglycaemic episodes. Therefore, healthcare providers should assist patients with disease management to improve their quality of life. Future studies should also recruit patients who claim to have experienced hypoglycaemic symptoms, rather than considering only those with blood glucose levels below 70 mg/dl, to expand the generalisability of the findings. Future studies may also focus on the management of hypoglycaemia in patients on an insulin regimen, and on examining the effect of health education programmes on prevention of hypoglycaemia. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The present findings could provide a reference for healthcare providers to consolidate nursing care guidelines and to improve such patients' quality of life.

Factors that affect the health status of health care providers-A cross-sectional design.

AIM: To explore the factors that affect the health status of health care providers. BACKGROUND: There is a lack of studies that address the stress, resilience, social support and health status of health care providers. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional study design, 500 participants were recruited from three hospitals which were operated by one entity in southern Taiwan. Data were collected with structured questionnaires. A logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the factors that might affect the health status of health care providers. RESULTS: Among the 500 health care providers, 345 were healthy and 155 were unhealthy. Health status was not significantly correlated with any demographic characteristics, but was significantly correlated with work stress, resilience and social support, with work stress being an important factor influencing the health status of health care providers. CONCLUSIONS: Health care providers with health issues had higher work stress, less resilience and less social support than did healthy medical personnel. Moreover, work stress was the main factor affecting the health of health care providers. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Hospital administrators should conduct a series of health management programmes to identify high-risk employees who might need assistance. Such programmes promoting healthy workplaces are necessary, as well as studies that examine the effectiveness of such strategies.

Impact of a peer virtual community on pregnant women's well-being: A repeated-measure and quasi-experimental study.

AIM: To investigate the effects of a virtual community on pregnant women's well-being. BACKGROUND: The virtual social network has been growing rapidly but its effects remain unclear. DESIGN: A repeated-measure and quasi-experimental study. METHODS: We designed a closed Facebook community for peer-to-peer interaction with no mediator. A total of 121 pregnant women were assigned to either experimental or control group. Data were collected from May 2012-January 2015 using five instruments related to pregnant women's well-being. RESULTS: Significant differences on pregnant women's well-being were not found between groups. However, higher adherence to the virtual community was significantly related to first-time pregnant women and women whose pregnancy was assisted by a technology treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses and midwifes are recommended to pay more attentions on first-time pregnant women and women whose pregnancy was assisted by a technology treatment regarding their pregnancy-related concerns. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03692923.

[A Challenge for Home-Based Hospice Care: Good Death at Home].

Taiwan is expected to become a "super-aged" nation in 2065. Modern medical advancements, while extending the average human lifespan, has led to higher incidence of patient suffering and greater medical expenses due to chronic disease and terminal illnesses. As the concept and services of hospice and palliative care have become increasingly accepted by the public, the issue of final care for a good death has become a priority concern for both patients and their families. Experiencing a good death at home is a common last wish for terminal patients. However, guidelines for good death at home are still unavailable in Taiwan. The promotion of this concept thus remains a challenge with many limitations. This article aims to explore: (1) the importance of hospice care; (2) the selection of a proper location for good death; (3) the requirements for nursing education in the care of dying patients; and (4) the challenges and strategies of a good death at home, including "the family dimension-connections with the family members" and "the education dimension-promotion of home-based dying in nursing education". The goal is to help terminal patients experience a good death at home, to assist family members embrace the good death of their loved ones, and, eventually, to facilitate peaceful and successful home-based dying for both the patient and their family members.

First-time fathers' health status during the perinatal period.

BACKGROUND: For first-time fathers, the perinatal period is a critical period of stress and imbalance. Marital intimacy and social support may affect their stress and health status while they change their roles. AIM: This study was to explore the changes of and correlations among marital intimacy, social support, and health status and predictors of first-time fathers' health status during the perinatal period. METHODS: With a repeated measures study design, a total of 217 first-time fathers whose spouses were in the third trimester of pregnancy were recruited for the study. The Chinese Health Questionnaire, Marital Intimacy Scale, and Social Support Scale were employed to collect data at a medical center in the 36th week of pregnancy and the 1st and 4th weeks after childbirth. RESULTS: The levels of marital intimacy and social support of first-time fathers during the perinatal period increased significantly with time. Meanwhile, the period of the first week after childbirth was a predictor of first-time father's health status. CONCLUSIONS: This study only tracked the first-time fathers' health status in the 36th week of pregnancy and the 1st and 4th weeks after childbirth. Future studies could track them until one year after childbirth in order to explore the impact of the perinatal period on the couples and their babies. During the perinatal period, health care providers shall assess and provide needed interventions to first-time fathers as soon as possible to facilitate the first-time fathers to get ready for the role transition and to promote their health status.

The Impact of Prepregnancy Body Mass Index and Gestational Weight Gain on Perinatal Outcomes for Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), an obstetric disease that affects the health of pregnant women, is one of the key factors associated with perinatal mortality or disease. AIMS: To explore the impact of prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) on perinatal outcomes for women with GDM. METHODS: With a retrospective study design, women were recruited who received prenatal checkups, gave birth at two teaching hospitals in southern Taiwan from 1995 to 2011, and received a diagnosis of GDM by an obstetrician. A trained research assistant collected the participants' data in each hospital's archives room. The researcher used a retrospective case study method to identify women who received a GDM diagnosis between 1995 and 2011. RESULTS: Women with GDM and with an overweight prepregnancy BMI were more likely to have cesarean deliveries and to use glucose-lowering medicines after delivery. Their newborns also had a higher birth weight. In addition, gestational hypertension and cesarean delivery were more common in women with GDM and with excessive GWG than in women with GDM and with normal GWG. The newborns of women with GDM and with excessive GWG had higher birth weights and more nuchal cord than those of women with GDM and with normal GWG. More women with GDM and with excessive GWG underwent blood glucose monitoring than did women with GDM and with normal GWG. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: The prepregnancy weight and GWG significantly affected perinatal outcomes in both the women with GDM themselves and their newborns. Healthcare professionals must provide childbearing women with additional health education in the areas of health promotion, nutrition, weight control, exercise, and maintaining regular everyday lives.

The effects of nursing preceptorship on new nurses' competence, professional socialization, job satisfaction and retention: A systematic review.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of nursing preceptorship on the competence, job satisfaction, professional socialization and retention of new nurses. BACKGROUND: Although studies have focused on the effects of nursing preceptorship on new nurses' competence and retention, a systematic review of the overall effects is lacking. DESIGN: A quantitative systematic review. DATA SOURCES: Five English/Chinese databases were searched for original articles published before June 2015 and only six articles published between 2001-2014 were included in the final analysis. REVIEW METHODS: Joanna Briggs Methodology was used to process one randomization control trial, one quasi-experimental study and four observational studies. Two appraisers independently reviewed each study using the standardized critical appraisal tools from the Joanna Briggs Institute. RESULTS: The most adopted preceptorship was a fixed preceptor/preceptee model and one-on-one for 1-3-month duration. It showed that new nurses' overall competence increased significantly due to preceptorship. Only a few studies explored the effects of preceptorship on the job satisfaction and professional socialization of new nurses. Clear conclusions regarding the effect of preceptorship on nurses' retention rate could not be made because of inconsistent time points for calculation and a lack of control groups in the study design. CONCLUSIONS: Preceptorship can improve new nurses' nursing competence; however, more studies are needed to ascertain its effects on new nurses' retention rates, job satisfaction and professional socialization to promote nursing care quality and resolve nursing shortages.

The effectiveness of multimedia education for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of two types of health education on improving knowledge concerning diabetes and insulin injection, insulin injection skills and self-efficacy, satisfaction with health education and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and creatinine levels among patients with type 2 diabetes who began insulin therapy using a pen injector. BACKGROUND: Insulin therapy is recommended to facilitate the regulation of plasma glucose; however, patient's acceptance of insulin therapy is generally low. Healthcare providers should help them improve their knowledge of diabetes and insulin injection, as well as their insulin injection skills. DESIGN: A randomized repeated measures experimental study design. METHODS: The experimental (n = 21) and control (n = 21) groups received multimedia and regular health education programmes, respectively from October 2013-August 2014. Four structured questionnaires were used and videotapes were applied to demonstrate injection skills. RESULTS: Generalized estimating equations showed that the experimental group's scores were significantly higher than those of the control group for diabetes and insulin injection knowledge, insulin injection skills, self-efficacy in insulin injection and satisfaction with health education. On the other hand, an analysis of covariance revealed glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and creatinine levels did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a multimedia diabetes education programme could improve patients' diabetes and insulin injection knowledge, insulin injection skills, self-efficacy in insulin injection and satisfaction with health education. Healthcare providers should improve quality of patient care by providing multimedia diabetes health education.

[Implementing Inter-Professional Education (IPE): Challenges and Strategies].

Inter-professional practice (IPP), necessary in today's healthcare environment, should be guided and practiced through inter-professional education (IPE). Within the context of an effective IPE program, collaborative medical professionals must be cognizant of the demands of patients' integrated care, organize a collaborative inter-professional team, and achieve the objectives of patient-centered care. However, the many challenges of IPE include insufficient understanding of inter-professional care, occupational culture-related boundary issues, lack of a college education, and insufficient support from academic and medical institutions. This article suggests adopting effective strategies to promote inter-professional recognition, create a harmonious medical culture, eliminate barriers to education, and enhance support for academic and medical institutions. Inter-professional collaboration between academic and clinical institutions must provide resources and substantive professional training. Effectively implementing IPE and IPP is expected to elicit trust, respect, and efficient communication from team members.

First-Time Mothers Psychiatric Health Status During the Transition to Motherhood.

The study was conducted to examine the changes of first-time mothers' psychiatric health status, social support, marital intimacy, postpartum stress, and maternal attachment during the transition to motherhood. A repeated measures study was conducted at the 36th week pregnancy, the first week postpartum, and the fourth week postpartum with 217 primiparous women. The results showed that the proportion of women with minor psychiatric morbidity declined over time from late pregnancy to early postpartum. The levels of marital intimacy and social support was the highest at the fourth week and the first week postpartum, respectively. Maternal attachment increased and postpartum stress decreased from the first week to fourth week postpartum. Women with minor psychiatric morbidity reported significantly higher postpartum stress than women without minor psychiatric morbidity. Identifying women with psychiatric morbidity in advance, and providing social support during late pregnancy would be effective strategies to enhance first-time mothers' adjustment to the transition of motherhood.

Predictors of Hyperglycemic Women's Perinatal Health Status.

BACKGROUND: Hyperglycemic women face dramatic physiological and psychosocial changes during the perinatal period; however, studies examining hyperglycemic women's health are few, and limited to cross-sectional designs. PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine changes in hyperglycemic women's stress, social support, depression, and health status from pregnancy to 1 year postpartum, and to identify factors predicting hyperglycemic women's perinatal health. METHODS: Ninety-nine participants with positive results in a 50-g glucose challenge test were recruited in a medical center in southern Taiwan. A repeated measures study was conducted; measurements were made at 28 weeks of pregnancy, and 1 week, 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year after childbirth. The Social Support Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire, and the Chinese Health Questionnaire were used. RESULTS: Compared with hyperglycemic women's depression at 28 weeks of pregnancy, significant decreases in mean depression scores were found at 1 week and 1 year postpartum. Hyperglycemic women's health status improved at 6 months and 1 year postpartum. Depression significantly predicted hyperglycemic women's perinatal health status. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Stress and depression are associated with perinatal health status in hyperglycemic women. Healthcare providers should more closely assess stress and depression levels in hyperglycemic women from pregnancy to 1 year postpartum. Interventions promoting the psychological well-being of hyperglycemic women are required.

The impact of three nursing staffing models on nursing outcomes.

AIM: To examine the impact of application of different nursing staffing models on patient safety, quality of care and nursing costs. BACKGROUND: One proposed means of addressing the staff shortage while decreasing nursing costs is the application of nursing staffing models. However, the optimal proportion of registered nurses to nurse aides remains unclear. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. METHODS: To examine a total of 667 inpatients of a 20-bed respiratory care centre at a medical centre located in southern Taiwan. Three mixed models of nursing staffing, where the portion of nurses compared with nurse aides was 76% (n = 213), 100% (n = 209) and 92% (n = 245), were applied during three different periods between 2006 - 2010. RESULTS: The 76% RNs group made fewer medication errors than the 100% RNs group; the 76% and 92% RNs groups had a higher rate of urinary tract infections; the 92% RNs group had a lower rate of bloodstream infections; the 76% RNs group had a lower rate of ventilator weaning; and the 76% and 92% RNs groups incurred higher nursing costs. CONCLUSIONS: Use of different nursing staffing models that substitute nurse aides for RNs may negatively affect patient safety and quality of care and increase nursing costs. To avoid this risk, hospitals should employ and train their own nurse aides and develop a training system and education materials for RN and nurse aides.

Mental health trajectories and related factors among perinatal women.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate Taiwanese women's mental health trajectories from the third trimester of pregnancy to four weeks postpartum and the correlations of these trajectories with perceived social support and demographic characteristics. BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported differences between prenatal and postpartum mental health status. DESIGN: A repeated design study was conducted in a medical hospital in Southern Taiwan. METHODS: One-hundred and ninety-four Taiwanese women completed the Chinese Health Questionnaire and Social Support Scale at the 36th prenatal week and first and fourth week postpartum. RESULTS: Three linear mental health trajectories for perinatal women were identified. Consistently poor perinatal mental health was reported by 16·0% of the participants. Less social support was associated with lower prenatal mental health scores. Younger age was a risk factor for consistently poor perinatal health. Vaginal delivery was associated with improved mental health after childbirth. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health was worse in the third trimester of pregnancy than postpartum. Less social support was associated with lower prenatal mental health scores, and this association was similarly distributed between women with consistently poor and improved mental health after birth. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Health care providers should assess women's mental health status and provide timely interventions during the perinatal period. Social support should be provided for pregnant women, especially younger women or those with lower perceived social support.

Postpartum fatigue, baby-care activities, and maternal-infant attachment of vaginal and cesarean births following rooming-in.

AIM: This study compares women's postpartum fatigue, baby-care activities, and maternal-infant attachment following vaginal and cesarean births in rooming-in settings. BACKGROUND: Postpartum women admitted to baby-friendly hospitals are asked to stay with their babies 24 hours a day and to breastfeed on demand regardless of the type of childbirth. METHODS: The study used a descriptive cross-sectional study design. A total of 120 postpartum women were recruited from two accredited baby-friendly hospitals in southern Taiwan. Three structured questionnaires were used to collect data, on which an analysis of covariance was conducted. RESULTS: Women who experienced a cesarean birth had higher postpartum fatigue scores than women who had given birth vaginally. Higher postpartum fatigue scores were correlated with greater difficulty in baby-care activities, which in turn resulted in weaker maternal-infant attachment as measured in the first 2 to 3 days postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitals should implement rooming-in in a more flexible way by taking women's postpartum fatigue and physical functioning into consideration.

Predictors of Health Status in Mothers of Premature Infants with Implications for Clinical Practice and Future Research.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum health research has focused primarily on full-term mothers. AIMS: To explore postpartum stress, depression, social support, health status, and predictors of health status in mothers of premature infants. METHODS: This study employed a cross-sectional design. With convenience sampling, a total of 203 mothers of premature infants were recruited from two medical centers and four community teaching hospitals in southern Taiwan. The Hung Postpartum Stress Scale, Social Support Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Chinese Health Questionnaire were used to assess the mothers' psychosocial features during the first 6 weeks postpartum. RESULTS: Mothers' health status differed significantly according to levels of postpartum stress and depression. The important health status predictors were age, education, postpartum stress, and depression level. DISCUSSION: The concerns and needs of mothers of premature infants differed from those of full-term mothers during the first 6 weeks postpartum; premature infants' health status was found to be a major perceived stressor for their mothers. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: In the process of caring for premature infants' mothers, healthcare providers should provide individualized care to meet their needs, thus facilitating the reduction of postpartum stress and depression levels. During premature infants' hospitalizations, healthcare providers should hold regular faculty meetings to provide postpartum women with relevant information about their infants' health and how to best care for them. Future studies should explore postpartum stress, social support, depression, and health status each postpartum week, which could serve as a guide for nursing interventions.