Development of a Nursing Guideline for Improving Skin Integrity in High-Risk Infants

초록

Background: High-risk infants are highly susceptible to skin impairment caused by invasive procedures, radiant warmers, and phototherapy, in addition to their intrinsic vulnerability. This leads to a vicious cycle that aggravates the risk of skin infections. Concerns have been raised that neonatal nurses may lack knowledge regarding feasible guidelines to improve skin integrity of high-risk newborns. Method: A clinical guideline was developed for neonatal skin care practices based on skin physiology, and its educational effects on the knowledge and confidence of neonatal nurses was evaluated. A booklet was developed on skin care practice guidelines divided into topics determined through a nationwide survey. Results: Using a quasi-experimental design with 46 neonatal nurses, education with this booklet improved nurses' knowledge of skin care practices but not their confidence. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of implementing a tailored systematic program rather than a single educational session on skin care in high-risk infants for neonatal nurses.

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