Part 2: Verification the CPIDC program on preterm infant growth, preterm infant
2. Characteristics of participants in the experimental and control groups
This study had 46 eligible parent-preterm infant dyads. All of them were invited to participate and sign the inform consents. In this research data collection process, no dropped out participants were found. Therefore, the participants of this study were randomly assigned into the experimental group (23 parent-preterm infant dyads) and the control group (23 parent-preterm infant dyads).
2.1 Parent characteristics
In experimental group, the relationship of all participants with the infant was the mother of the infant. There were 23 mothers with their mean age of
32.22 years old (SD = 7.19), 69.57% had below bachelor’s degree education, almost of them were employee or worker during the time of pregnancy (91.30%), and 47.83% had family income ≤ 20,000 baht/ months. More than one half of families were nuclear families (56.52%) background. About 56.52% of mothers were single in marital status. Most of mothers planned to get pregnant (69.57 %), all of them had antenatal care (100%), and 65.22% had on complication during pregnancy.
About 56.22% of mothers were not first order of infant, but all of them had no experience of having preterm infant (100%). Most of them gave delivery by cesarean section (60.87%). The grandmothers supported to care preterm infants at home (43.48%). The range of separation time between mother and preterm infant was 2-5 days with mean 3.33 (SD = 1.06) days.
In the control group, the relationship of all participants with the infant was the mother of the infant. There were 23 mothers with their mean age of 28.78 years old (SD = 6.24), 78.26% had below bachelor’s degree education, almost of them were employee or worker during the time of pregnancy (82.61%), and 43.48%
had family income 20,001-30,000 baht/ months. More than one half of families were nuclear families (56.52%) background. About 60.87% of mothers were married in marital status. Most of mothers planned to get pregnant (65.22%), almost of them had antenatal care (91.30%), and 60.87% had on complication during pregnancy. About 60.87% of mothers were first order of infant, but all of them had no experience of having preterm infant (100%). Most of them gave delivery by normal labor (52.17%). The grandmothers supported to care preterm
infants at home (56.52%). The range of separation time between mother and preterm infant was 2-6 days with mean 3.78 (SD = 0.90) days.
Parent characteristics between the experimental and the control groups were compared by using chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test for categorical data, and t-test for continuous data to determine their differences. There were no
statistically significant differences of parent characteristics between experimental and control groups (p > .05) which the details were shown in the Table 4.
Table 4 The demographic characteristics of parents in experimental and control groups
Characteristics
Experimental group
Control
group Statistic
value p-value (n=23) (n=23)
n % n %
Age (year) 1.730 .091a
Range 18 - 46 18 - 42
𝑋̅ ± SD 32.22 ± 7.19 28.78 ±6.24
Education 0.451 .502b
< Bachelor’s degree 16 69.57 18 78.26 ≥ Bachelor’s degree 7 30.43 5 21.74
Occupation 0.767 .665b
Employee 21 91.30 19 82.61
Unemployed 2 8.70 4 17.39
Family income 1.003 .606b
(Baht/month)
≤ 20,000 11 47.83 8 34.78
20,001 - 30,000 7 30.43 10 43.48
≥ 30,001 5 21.74 5 21.74
Note a =Independent t-test, b =Chi-square test, c= Fisher’s Exact test
Table 4 (Continued)
Characteristics
Experimental group
Control
group Statistic
value p-value (n=23) (n=23)
n % n %
Type of family 0.000 1.000b
Nuclear family 13 56.52 13 56.52 Extended family 10 43.48 10 43.48
Marital status 1.394 .238b
Married 10 43.48 14 60.87
Single 13 56.52 9 39.13
Plan to pregnancy 0.099 .753b
Planned 16 69.57 15 65.22
Unplanned 7 30.43 8 34.78
Antenatal care .489c
No 0 0 2 8.70
Yes 23 100 21 91.30
Complication during 0.093 .760b
pregnancy
No 15 65.22 14 60.87
Yes 8 34.78 9 39.13
Number of children 1.394 .238b
1 10 43.48 14 60.87
≥ 2 13 56.52 9 39.13
Type of delivery 0.789 .375b
Normal labor 9 39.13 12 52.17
Cesarean section 14 60.87 11 47.83 Note a =Independent t-test, b =Chi-square test, c= Fisher’s Exact test
Table 4 (Continued)
Characteristics
Experimental group
Control
group Statistic
value p-value (n=23) (n=23)
n % n %
Significant person 0.783 .376b
helping to care infant
Husband 13 56.52 10 43.48
Grandmother 10 43.48 13 56.52
Separation time (day) -1.571 .123a
Range 2-5 2-6
𝑋̅ ± SD 3.33 ± 1.06 3.78 ±.90
Note a =Independent t-test, b =Chi-square test, c= Fisher’s Exact test
2.2 Preterm infant characteristics
In experimental group, there were 23 preterm infants with girl majority (56.52%). Most of them had CRIB score of 0 – 5 (65.23%). The mean of preterm infant gestational ages were 30.83 weeks (SD = 1.34), and the most of gestational age were 32 weeks (43.48%). More than one half of infants (56.52%) were very preterm infants (< 32 weeks). The mean of body weight at birth 1472.83 grams (SD
= 431.15), and 47.83% of infant were low birth weight (< 2500 grams). At birth, 82.61% of infants were appropriate for gestational age (AGA). The mean of length at birth were 39.67 centimeters (SD = 4.15) and mean of head circumference at birth were 27.30 centimeters (SD = 2.49). About 60.87% of the infants had an Apgar score of 7-10 in the first minute. In the fifth minute, most of infants had an Apgar score of 7-10 (78.26%). In the tenth minute, all of infants had an Apgar score of 7- 10 (100%). All of preterm infants were diagnosed with respiratory distress
syndrome (100%) and hyperbilirubinemia (100%), apnea of prematurity (30.43%), feeding intolerance (34.78%), patent ductus arteriosus (47.83%), anemia (30.43%), and no intraventricular hemorrhage. All of preterm infants (100%) were provided total parenteral nutrition (TPN), lipid, and breast milk. Length of stay in hospital of
preterm infants was 41.43 days (SD = 13.45). In addition, the length of stay in NICU was 12.35 days (SD = 11.58).
In the control group, there were 23 preterm infants with boy majority (69.57%). Most of them had CRIB score of 6 – 10 (56.52%). The mean of preterm infant gestational ages were 30.65 weeks (SD = 1.30), and most of the gestational age (30.43%) were 31 weeks and 32 weeks. About 73.91% were very preterm infants (< 32 weeks). The mean of body weight at birth 1372.17 grams (SD = 312.15), and 56.52% of infant were very low birth weight (< 1500 grams). At birth, 95.65% of infants were appropriate for gestational age (AGA). The mean of length at birth were 39.24 centimeters (SD = 3.55) and mean of head circumference at birth were 27.30 centimeters (SD = 2.88). About 52.17% of the infants had an Apgar score of 7-10 in the first minute. In the fifth minute, almost of infants had an Apgar score of 7-10 (86.96%). In the tenth minute, all of infants had an Apgar score of 7- 10 (100%). All of preterm infants were diagnosed with respiratory distress
syndrome (100%) and hyperbilirubinemia (100%), apnea of prematurity (30.43%), feeding intolerance (30.43%), patent ductus arteriosus (52.17%), anemia (30.43%), and intraventricular hemorrhage (8.70%). All of preterm infants (100%) were provided total parenteral nutrition (TPN), lipid, and breast milk. Length of stay in hospital of preterm infants was 43.35 days (SD = 14.42). In addition, the length of stay in NICU was 14.17 days (SD = 10.30).
Preterm infant characteristics between the experimental and the control groups were compared by using chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test for
categorical data, and t-test for continuous data to determine their differences. There were no statistically significant differences of preterm infant characteristics between experimental and control groups (p > .05) which the details were shown in the Table 5.
Table 5 The demographic characteristics of preterm infant in experimental and control groups
Characteristics
Experimental group
Control
group Statistic
value p-value
(n=23) (n=23)
n % n %
Gender 3.185 .074b
Boy 10 43.48 16 69.57
Girl 13 56.52 7 30.43
Gestational age 0.459 .648a
Range 28-32 28-32
𝑋̅ ± SD 30.83 ± 1.34 30.65 ± 1.30
28 weeks 2 8.69 1 4.36
29 weeks 2 8.69 4 17.39
30 weeks 4 17.39 4 17.39
31 weeks 5 21.75 7 30.43
32 weeks 10 43.48 7 30.43
CRIB score 2.190 .139b
0 - 5 15 65.23 10 43.48
6 - 10 8 34.77 13 56.52
Range 5 - 9 5 - 9
Infant’s gestational age 1.533 .216b
Very preterm 13 56.52 17 73.91
(< 32wks)
Moderate preterm 10 43.48 6 26.09 (32 - <34wks)
Note a =Independent t-test, b =Chi-square test, c= Fisher’s Exact test
Table 5 (Continued)
Characteristics
Experimental group
Control
group Statistic
value p-value
(n=23) (n=23)
n % n %
Birth weight (gram) 0.907 .369a
Range 680-2260 850-1955
𝑋̅ 1472.83 1372.17
SD 431.15 312.15
Infant’s birth weight 3.189 .203b
LBW (< 2500) 11 47.83 7 30.43 VLBW (< 1500) 7 30.43 13 56.52 ELBW (< 1000) 5 21.74 3 13.04
Infant’s size .346c
SGA 4 17.39 1 4.35
AGA 19 82.61 22 95.65
Length (At birth) 0.381 .705a
Range 32-48 34-45
𝑋̅ 39.67 39.24
SD 4.15 3.55
Head circumference 0.000 1.000a
(At birth)
Range 23-33.5 23-31
𝑋̅ 27.30 27.30
SD 2.49 2.88
Apgar score in 1 minutes 0.354 .552b
0 - 6 9 39.13 11 47.83
7 - 10 14 60.87 12 52.17
Note a =Independent t-test, b =Chi-square test, c= Fisher’s Exact test
Table 5 (Continued)
Characteristics
Experimental group
Control
group Statistic
value p-value
(n=23) (n=23)
n % n %
Apgar score in 5 minutes .699c
0 - 6 5 21.74 3 13.04
7 - 10 18 78.26 20 86.96
Apgar score in 10 minutes
7 - 10 23 100 23 100
Health problem
RDS 23 100 23 100
Hyperbilirubinemia 23 100 23 100
Apnea of prematurity 0.000 1.000b
Yes 7 30.43 7 30.43
No 16 59.57 16 59.57
Anemia 0.000 1.000b
Yes 7 30.43 7 30.43
No 16 59.57 16 59.57
IVH .489c
Yes 0 0 2 8.70
No 23 100 21 91.30
PDA 0.087 .768b
Yes 11 47.83 12 52.17
No 12 52.17 11 47.83
Feeding intolerance 0.044 .833b
Yes 8 34.78 7 30.43
No 15 65.22 16 59.57
Note a =Independent t-test, b =Chi-square test, c= Fisher’s Exact test
Table 5 (Continued)
Characteristics
Experimental group
Control
group Statistic
value p-value
(n=23) (n=23)
n % n %
Nutrition type
TPN, lipid, breast 23 100 23 100 milk, formula milk
Length of stay in NICU -0.656 .575a
Range (day) 3 - 38 2 - 38
𝑋̅ ± SD 12.35 ± 11.58 14.17 ± 10.30
Length of stay in hospital -0.465 .644a
Range (day) 29 - 68 29 -70
𝑋̅ ± SD 41.43 ± 13.45 43.35 ± 14.42 Note a =Independent t-test, b =Chi-square test, c= Fisher’s Exact test