Effectiveness of Childbirth Education on Nulliparous Women’s Knowledge of Childbirth Preparation, Pregnancy Anxiety and Pregnancy Outcomes

Background: The emerging number of cesarean sections among nulliparous women due to high pregnancy-related anxiety is a major concern of maternity care providers. Childbirth preparations enable women to cope with pregnancy anxiety and enhance pregnancy outcomes. Limited studies evaluated the impact of childbirth educational interventions on pregnancy-specific anxiety and pregnancy outcomes. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of childbirth educational intervention on nulliparous women’s knowledge on childbirth preparation, pregnancy anxiety, and pregnancy outcomes. Methods: A randomized controlled trial approach with a two-group pretest/ posttest design was used among hundred nulliparous third trimester pregnant women. All participants were pretested for their knowledge on childbirth preparation and pregnancy anxiety level using knowledge questionnaire, state trait anxiety inventory, and pregnancy-specific anxiety inventory. The experimental group (n = 50) received three sessions of childbirth education. All participants were post- tested before delivery, and their pregnancy outcomes were noted from labor records. Data were collected from a major maternity hospital in Kerala, India. GLM repeated measures analysis and paired t-test were used for data analysis. Results: The experimental group demonstrated a significantly higher level of knowledge on childbirth preparation (P < 0.001), with high reported mean knowledge scores of (54.30 ± 3.86) childbirth preparation than the control group (31.08 ± 1.96). A lower mean scores of pregnancy-specific anxiety among experimental group (102 ± 4.65) (P < 0.001) compared to control group (139.96 ± 4.9) signifies the relevance of childbirth education in reducing pregnancy-specific anxiety. Significant reductions of caesarean birth (50%) among nulliparous women along with a 12% increase in newborn’s birth weights were the main positive birth outcomes. Conclusions: Childbirth education significantly reduced pregnancy-specific anxiety and the adverse pregnancy outcomes. The emerging number of cesarean sections on maternal request due to childbirth anxiety could be reduced by empowering nulliparous women through childbirth education

Perceived Benefits of Pre-Clinical Simulation-based Training on Clinical Learning Outcomes among Omani Undergraduate Nursing Students

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the benefits perceived by Omani undergraduate maternity nursing students regarding the effect of pre-clinical simulation-based training (PSBT) on clinical learning outcomes. Methods: This non-experimental quantitative survey was conducted between August and December 2012 among third-year baccalaureate nursing students at Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat, Oman. Voluntary participants were exposed to faculty-guided PSBT sessions using low- and medium-fidelity manikins, standardised scenarios and skill checklists on antenatal, intranatal, postnatal and newborn care and assessment. Participants answered a purposely designed self-administered questionnaire on the benefits of PSBT in enhancing learning outcomes. Items were categorised into six subscales: knowledge, skills, patient safety, academic safety, confidence and satisfaction. Scores were rated on a four-point Likert scale. Results: Of the 57 participants, the majority (95.2%) agreed that PSBT enhanced their knowledge. Most students (94.3%) felt that their patient safety practices improved and 86.5% rated PSBT as beneficial for enhancing skill competencies. All male students and 97% of the female students agreed that PSBT enhanced their confidence in the safe holding of newborns. Moreover, 93% of participants were satisfied with PSBT. Conclusion: Omani undergraduate nursing students perceived that PSBT enhanced their knowledge, skills, patient safety practices and confidence levels in providing maternity care. These findings support the use of simulation training as a strategy to facilitate clinical learning outcomes in future nursing courses in Oman, although further research is needed to explore the objective impact of PSBT on learning outcomes.Keywords

Reverse Mentoring and Intergenerational Learning in Nursing: Bridging generational diversity

Covid -19 pandemic urged technical competency and knowledge sharing among the diverse multigenerational workforce. Reverse mentoring is where a technically competent younger employee mentors the senior experienced employee and reciprocally exchanges the work culture and soft skills. Diverse intergenerational learning spurs innovation through sharing knowledge, skills, competencies, norms, and values. The ever-changing nursing practice and education with a multigenerational workforce demand a reverse mentoring approach for intergenerational knowledge sharing to enhance technical competency. Reverse mentoring is known to have benefits on quality of education, better practice outcomes, and employee development. A reverse mentoring strategy is proposed as a sustainable cost-effective intergenerational knowledge-sharing tool in the current era of economic crisis due to the Covid -19 pandemic. This paper aimed to discuss the scope of reverse mentoring and intergenerational learning in nursing. This paper provides an overview of reverse mentoring characteristics, significance, benefits, conceptual framework, implementation strategy, and application in nursing. Keywords: Mentoring; Covid-19; Cultural Diversity; Learning; Nursing; Preceptorship; Intergenerational learning; Multigenerational Workforce

Sociodemographic and medical risk factors associated with antepartum depression

Background: The increasing recognition of antenatal depression is an emerging area of concern in developing countres. We conducted a study to estimate the prevalence of antenatal mental distress and its relation with sociodemographic factors, obstetric factors, and physiological wellbeing in pregnant women attending public health facilities in Bengaluru, South India. Methods: Nested within a cohort study, we assessed the mental status in 823 pregnant women in two public referral hospitals. Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10 scale) was used to assess maternal depression. We collected information related to social-demographic characteristics and recent medical complaints. Descriptive statistics and odds ratios were calculated using SPSS version 20. Results: Results show that 8.7% of the women exhibited symptoms of antenatal depression. Sociodemographic characteristics, such as respondent occupation, husband education, husband’s occupation, total family income showed significance. First time pregnancy, anemia, and high blood pressure were also associated with mental distress. Conclusion: Our study has demonstrated feasibility of screening for mental health problems in public hospitals. Early detection of mental distress during pregnancy is crucial as it has a direct impact on the fetus. The public health facilities in low- and middle-income countries such as India should consider piloting and scaling up screening services for mental health conditions for pregnant women

Knowledge and Practice of Umbilical Cord Clamping among Maternity Care Providers

Background & aim: Based on the current scientific evidence, delayed cord clamping (DCC) elevates early hemoglobin concentrations and iron stores in the neonate. However, the persistent practice of early cord clamping (ECC) is still a routine care. The aim of the present study was to investigate the umbilical cord clamping practices of maternity care providers in Oman. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 175 maternity care providers who were registered members of the Oman Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and participated voluntarily in the study. The data were collected using a modified version of an online survey in form of a questionnaire developed by Stoll and Hutton (2012). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: According to the results, 61% and 31% of the participants were obstetricians and midwifes, respectively, with more than 10 years of experience. The findings indicated that the timing of cord clamping varied among the participants. 87.4-89.6% of the care providers considered ECC timing to be within 1 min of birth, and 70-72.6% of them clamped umbilical cord within 1 min for both normal term and preterm newborns. The most frequently listed benefits of DCC were the physiologic transitioning of the newborn, enhancement of neonatal iron stores, reduced risk of neonatal anemia, and decreased need for transfusions. 45.7% of the participants considered polycythemia and jaundice as the highest associated risks of DCC. Only 11% of the participants reported that they use hospital policy as a reference guide on decision making regarding the timing of cord clamping. Conclusion: Although the majority of the maternity care providers are aware of the new guidelines regarding the timing of cord clamping, they still follow ECC practice. The high prevalence of ECC highlighted the demand for the implementation of a nation- and hospital-wide policy

Reverse Mentoring and Intergenerational Learning in Nursing

This article aimed to discuss the scope of reverse mentoring and intergenerational learning in nursing. Accordingly, it discusses the characteristics, significance, benefits, conceptual framework, implementation strategy and application of reverse mentoring in nursing. Reverse mentoring occurs when a technically competent younger employee mentors a senior experienced employee and reciprocally exchanges the work culture and soft skills. Diverse intergenerational learning spurs innovation through the sharing of knowledge, skills, competencies, norms and values. Thus, reverse mentoring helps to enhance the quality of education, practice-outcomes and employee development. It should be adopted for a multigenerational workforce to promote diversity, keep employees technically competent and updated in ever changing nursing profession. Presently, the COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to an urgent need for technical competency and knowledge sharing among the diverse multigenerational nursing workforce. Therefore, a reverse-mentoring strategy is proposed as a sustainable cost-effective intergenerational knowledgesharing tool for the current era of economic crisis.Keywords: Mentoring; COVID-19; Cultural Diversity; Learning; Nursing; Preceptorship; Intergenerational Relations; Mentorship.</jats:p

Prevalence of pregnancy anxiety and associated factors

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of pregnancy-specific anxiety (PSA) and its associated factors among pregnant women during the three trimesters of pregnancy.DesignA prospective explorative survey was conducted among 500 low-risk Indian pregnant women of age 18–35years.SettingA major maternity government hospital in southern state of Kerala, India.Participants500 low risk pregnant women who attended the major maternity government hospital during the period June 2004–July 2005 were selected as convenient sample.MethodsAn exploratory research design with a prospective cohort approach was adopted for the study. State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Pregnancy-Specific Anxiety Inventory (PSAI) were used to collect the data.ResultsHighest prevalence of pregnancy-specific anxiety (PSA) was reported during the third trimester of pregnancy. All pregnant women rated high levels of third trimester childbirth anxiety compared to other three components of pregnancy-specific anxiety. Nulliparous pregnant women reported higher levels of PSA than parous pregnant women (M=134.40, M=116.8). Young age, nulliparous status and nuclear family nature were identified as common risk factors of pregnancy-specific anxiety.ConclusionDuring the transition to motherhood, the risk factors and timing of heightened pregnancy-specific anxiety differ. Higher prevalence of pregnancy anxiety among nulliparous and younger pregnant women necessitates an integrated routine screening of PSA during prenatal care. Early detection, prevention and management of pregnancy anxiety will enable women to cope with the challenges of pregnancy