Orientador: Sergio Tadeu Martins Marba / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-10T01:42:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Oliveira_PryssillaSouzaMoutinhode_M.pdf: 2260203 bytes, checksum: 6ec4627d509d53d1a2c4406e8c3a9032 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar alguns fatores de risco para atelectasia em recém-nascidos que foram admitidos na Unidad_ de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal na Maternidade do Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher (CAISM) do complexo hospitalar da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), no periodo de 10 de janeiro de 1998 a outubro de 2003. Foi realizado um estudo caso-controle emparelhado pelo peso, comparando-se 104 recém-nascidos com atelectasia e 104 sem a condição, diagnosticada por radiografia de tórax. Para avaliar a associação entre os fatores de risco perinatais e neonatais com a atelectasia, foram realizadas análise bivariada para cada variável independente e análise multivariada. Na análise bivariada as variáveis estatisticamente significativas foram, pneumonia, ventilação mecânica, intubação, via de intubação nasal e oral, reintubação, aspiração endotraqueal e sedação. Após a análise múltipla permaneceram variáveis significativamente associadas a atelectasia, aspiração endotraqueal, pneumonia e reintubação / Abstract: The aim of the present study was to analyze some of the risk factors associated with atelectasis in newborn infants who were admitted to the intensive care unit in the Maternity of the Center of Integral Assistance to Women' s Health of the State University of Campinas during the period of January 1998 to October 2003. The study used was paired case-control designs, comparing 104 newborns with atelectasis and 104 without the condition. To evaluate the relation between perinatal and neonatal risk factors, bivariate and multiple analyses for paired case-control study were used. In the bivariate analyses, pneumonia, mechanical ventilation, intubation, orotracheal and nasotracheal route, reintubation, endotracheal suctioning and sedation were factors statistically significant for atelectasis. After multiple analysis endotracheal suctioning, reintubation and pneumonia continued as variables significantly correlated with atelectasis / Mestrado / Saude da Criança e do Adolescente / Mestre em Saude da Criança e do Adolescente

Background: According to the World Health Organization, between four to nine million newborns develop birth asphyxia. It is estimated that 1.2 million fatal outcomes and at least the same number develop disabling neurological sequelae and developmental delay. Early neurological evaluation promotes the improvement of the life expectancy of serious asphyxiated babies and It can be incorporated into the routine of neonatal intensive care units. Glasgow Coma Scale adapted for children can be an assessment tool used in high-risk newborns. Objective: To compare the clinical outcome of term infants with perinatal asphyxia (PA) moderate and severe that underwent a neurological neonatal serial evaluation protocol during hospital stay, with those not undergoing evaluation. Method: This is an epidemiologic, observational and analytical study, using a quantitative approach. The study considered two groups, intervention and control. For the control group, at first, it was made a survey data in charts and then the longitudinal, prospective, observational approach was adopted during the period of outpatient care. For the intervention group, a longitudinal approach, prospective, observational was used during the hospital stay and follow-up clinic. We sought to investigate the neurological clinical course of children, the length of stay in hospital and delay presence in the development of neuromotor skills. Results: The sample consisted of 112 newborns, 86 infants in the control group and 26 infants in the intervention group. The intervention group showed a median of less hospital stay (p<0.001) than the control group. Full-term newborns diagnosed with PA, which remained for a shortest time in hospital length and were subjected to a serial neurological evaluation protocol, incorporated into standard clinical procedures in the NICU for the management of PA, did not show disturbances in neuromotor development. Conclusion: The use of serial neurological evaluation protocol influenced significantly, the prevalence of delayed neuromotor development. / Introdução: Segundo a Organização Mundial da Saúde, cerca de quatro a nove milhões de recém-nascidos (RN) desenvolvem asfixia ao nascer. Estima-se que 1,2 milhão evoluem para óbito e, pelo menos, o mesmo número desenvolve sequelas neurológicas incapacitantes e atraso no desenvolvimento. A avaliação neurológica precoce promove melhora da perspectiva de vida dos anoxiados graves, podendo, esta, ser incorporada à rotina das unidades de terapia intensiva neonatal. A escala de coma de Glasgow adaptada para crianças poderá ser utilizada em RN de alto risco. Objetivo: Comparar a evolução clínica neurológica dos RN a termo com asfixia perinatal (AP) moderada e grave que foram submetidos a um protocolo de avaliação neurológica neonatal seriada durante período de internamento hospitalar, com aqueles não submetidos à avaliação. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico, observacional, analítico, com abordagem quantitativa. O estudo considerou dois grupos, intervenção e controle. Para o grupo controle foi feito um levantamento de dados em prontuários e, em seguida, adotada a abordagem longitudinal, prospectiva, observacional, durante o período de atendimento ambulatorial. Para o grupo intervenção, foi utilizada uma abordagem longitudinal, prospectiva, observacional, durante o período intra-hospitalar e em ambulatório de seguimento. Buscou-se investigar a evolução clínica neurológica da criança, o tempo de permanência no serviço hospitalar e presença de atraso no desenvolvimento das habilidades neuromotoras. Resultados: A amostra foi constituída de 112 RN, sendo 86 RN do grupo controle e 26 RN do grupo intervenção. O grupo intervenção mostrou uma mediana de tempo de internamento hospitalar menor (p<0,001) que o grupo controle. RN a termo, diagnosticados com AP, que permaneceram por menor tempo em internamento hospitalar e foram submetidos a um protocolo de avaliação neurológica seriada, incorporado às condutas clínicas padronizadas na UTIN para a gestão da AP, não apresentaram distúrbios no desenvolvimento neuromotor. Conclusão: A utilização do protocolo de avaliação neurológica seriada influenciou a prevalência de atraso no desenvolvimento neuromotor.

Submitted by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2015-11-03T18:31:56Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Ana Paula Mundim - 2013.pdf: 2936836 bytes, checksum: ce10b29e43ad1349b92d3241f9a48cdd (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2015-11-03T18:33:08Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Ana Paula Mundim - 2013.pdf: 2936836 bytes, checksum: ce10b29e43ad1349b92d3241f9a48cdd (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-11-03T18:33:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Ana Paula Mundim - 2013.pdf: 2936836 bytes, checksum: ce10b29e43ad1349b92d3241f9a48cdd (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-08 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás - FAPEG / Hospitalization at Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) is commonly related to many invasive and painful procedures. It has been reported that painful experiences in infancy can be associated with pain perception in the future. Little is known about the relation between the history of NICU care and children’s pain behavior during the dental exam. This study aimed to compare the occurrence of pain during the dental exam of children with/out history of previous admission to a NICU. This case-control study enrolled 42 children, 5.7±0.4 years-old, 24 girls, with (n=21) and without (n=21) history of NICU care, exploring other medical/dental features potentially related to this association. Children’s pain perception was evaluated by the Brazilian versions of two scales: the observational measure “Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) Pain Assessment Tool”, and the self-report Faces Pain Scale–Revised (FPS-R)”. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Chi-square (likelihood ratio) and Mann-Whitney tests. Findings showed that 5 children (23.8%) with history of NICU care showed pain during the dental exam (FLACC≥1), compared to none from the control group (P=0.006). Most of the 42 children (90.0%) did not perceived pain during the dental exam (FPS-R), with no difference between case and control groups (P=0.238). NICU children had more hospitalization later in childhood (81.0%) than the control group (25.0%, P<0.001). Groups did not differ regarding chronic diseases (P=0.141). History of dental pain, dental treatment experience and negative behavior at the dentist did not differ between the 5 children with FLACC≥1 and the others (P>0.05). It was concluded that children with history of NICU care present more pain during dental exam than those who did not have this experience. / O comportamento infantil pode ser influenciado por diversos fatores, como experiências médicas traumáticas. A internação em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal (UTIN) é necessária para algumas crianças prematuras e pode ser caracterizada por numerosos procedimentos invasivos e dolorosos. Evidências ressaltam que os temores da infância podem ser exacerbados na vida futura; as experiências dolorosas no início da vida podem ser fatores associados ao comportamento. Poucos estudos buscaram relacionar o comportamento no consultório odontológico de crianças ao histórico de hospitalização emUTIN. Esta pesquisa de abordagem quantitativa, observacional transversal, caso-controle, analisou o comportamento durante exame odontológico, de 42 crianças de 5 a 6 anos de idade com e sem história de cuidados intensivos neonatais, aspectos relacionados ao nascimento e saúde bucal. A coleta de dados envolveu exame odontológico e avaliação do comportamento, utilizando-se versão brasileira das escalas Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) eFaces Pain Scale – Revised(FPS-R). Os dados foram analisados por estatística descritiva e teste Qui-quadrado (razão de verossimilhança). Cárie dentária estava presente em 73,8%% da amostra Os resultados evidenciaram que 90% das crianças não mostraram sinais de dor durante o exame odontológico, segundo a escala FPS-R. Cinco crianças (23,8%) com história pregressa de internação em UTIN demonstraram dor durante o exame odontológico (escore FLACC≥1) (p-valor=0,006). Houve associação estatisticamente significante entre dor no exame odontológico e internação em UTIN.

Este estudo teve como objetivo descrever o perfil e o padrÃo de prÃticas assistenciais de recÃm-nascidos com distÃrbios respiratÃrios, internados nas unidades de terapia intensiva em Fortaleza e analisar fatores associados ao Ãbito em recÃm-nascidos de muito baixo peso com SÃndrome do Desconforto RespiratÃrio. Trata-se de um estudo de coorte prospectiva de base hospitalar, realizado em 773 recÃm-nascidos em cinco hospitais, de julho a dezembro de 2007. Foram duas etapas uma descritiva e a outra, analÃtica. A maioria era prÃ-termo (80,7%). Entre o primeiro e quinto minuto, houve queda no Apgar de 4-6 e melhora no Apgar maior do que 7. A SÃndrome do Desconforto RespiratÃrio foi a patologia mais freqÃente (73%). Dos recÃm-nascidos de muito baixo peso 62,7% estavam sob ventilaÃÃo mecÃnica, 53,7%, surfactante e 19,9% foram a Ãbito. Os fatores de risco para Ãbito identificados pela anÃlise bivariada e nÃvel de significÃncia de 5% foram a idade materna < 20 anos (p=0,008), Apgar de quinto minuto < 7 (p<0,001), o uso de ventilaÃÃo com pressÃo positiva na sala de parto (p< 0,001), intubaÃÃo na sala de parto (p< 0,001) e o uso de surfactante (p<0,001). O uso de corticÃide antenatal assim como o uso de surfactante foi baixo. Os recÃm-nascidos com peso menor que 1500g necessitaram de maior suporte terapÃutico e tiveram mais elevada taxa de Ãbito. Esse cenÃrio demonstra a necessidade de melhorias na assistÃncia prà e perinatal e particularmente aos recÃm-nascidos de muito baixo peso. / The objectives of this study was to describe the profile and the standards of medical care in newborns with respiratory disorders admitted to intensive care units as well as analyze the risk factors associated to the death in low birth weight newborn with respiratory distress syndrome. It is a prospective cohort study hospitalar-based realized in 773 newborns in five hospitals from July and December 2007. Was two phases a described and the other, analytical. The majotity were premature (80.7%). Between the first and the fifth minute, the number of newborns with Apgar less than 3 decreased and the ones with Apgar above or equal to 7 increased. Respiratory distress syndrome was the most frequent disease (73%). For the newborns with very low weight and respiratory distress syndrome, 62.7% used mechanical ventilation, 53.7% surfactant and 19.9% died. The risk factors for death according to the bivariate analysis were: mother`s age less than 20 years (p=0.008), Apgar less than 7 in the fifth minute (p<0.001), the use of positive pressure ventilation in the delivery room (p<0.001), intubation in the delivery room (p<0,001) and the use of surfactant (p<0.001).The use of antenatal corticosteroids and use of surfactant was low. The newborns weighing less than 1500g needed more medical assistance than others and still presented a high death rate. According to the study, the respiratory disorders of the newborns and the outcome are strongly related to the prenatal factors, to the assistance in the delivery room and to the intensive care.

Submitted by Edineia Teixeira (edineia.teixeira@unioeste.br) on 2017-12-18T14:07:00Z No. of bitstreams: 2 alessandra_santos2017.pdf: 7767565 bytes, checksum: 0e4c6d512fc332357ecb23d4a631cb5b (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-12-18T14:07:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 alessandra_santos2017.pdf: 7767565 bytes, checksum: 0e4c6d512fc332357ecb23d4a631cb5b (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Preterm birth provides modifications for both the life of the Newborn (NB) as family. Among these changes has been hospitalization in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) due to the immaturity of organs and systems, generating the need for treatment and intensive care. Because of hospitalization, complications may occur or biological, psychological and social changes to the Newborn Preterm (PTN), which can lead to changes in Neuropsychomotor Development (DNPM). One way to minimize these complications is through proper body positioning premature procedure performed during routine care team in a NICU. However, a gap is evident as regards the PTN response during positioning correlating different positions during hospitalization, as well as the comparison between standard protocols and procedures routine in the NICU. Therefore, the main objective of this research was to compare the physiological, behavioral and pain responses presented by PTN subjected to a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) body position with those in routine positioning of the NICU. Quantitative study, prospective, randomized clinical trial type, conducted from July 2015 to March 2016 with 30 preterm infants admitted to the NICU of a teaching hospital of the West of Paraná. The subjects were randomly separated into Unit Routine Decubitus group (URD) and Intervention Group (GI), on which it was subjected to previously validated positioning protocol and proposed in 2015. The variables analyzed in the study were: physiological characteristics (respiratory rate, heart rate and oxygen saturation); behavior (measured by the Scale of Brazelton Modified - EBM) and pain (scale verified by the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale - NIPS). The study sample consisted of preterm infants with gestational age for both groups predominantly between 28 and 32 weeks and birth weight between 1001 and 1499 grams, characterizing the sample as very premature and very low birth weight. Regarding the physiological variables it was observed throughout the procedure that the heart rate in URD remained lower compared to the values submitted by the IG; Respiratory Rate (RR) in the URD was higher when compared to IG and oxygen peripheral saturation values remained stable in both groups. The PTN behavior, by EBM and pain by NIPS, showed similar scores in both groups before the start of the procedure, however, significantly lower in IG during the intervention. It is pointed out then that the positioning SOP provided decrease in RR in scores of pain and behavior scales, when compared to the URD. It is believed that a standardized position in the long term hospitalization contribute to the proper DNPM. / O nascimento prematuro proporciona modificações tanto para a vida do Recém-Nascido (RN) quanto para a família. Dentre essas modificações tem-se o internamento em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal (UTIN) devido à imaturidade de órgãos e sistemas, gerando a necessidade de tratamento e cuidados intensivos. Em virtude da hospitalização, podem ocorrer complicações ou alterações biológicas, psicológicas e sociais para o Recém-nascido Prematuro (RNPT), que podem levar a alterações no Desenvolvimento Neuropsicomotor (DNPM). Uma das maneiras de minimizar estas complicações é por meio do posicionamento corporal adequado do prematuro, procedimento realizado durante a rotina de cuidados da equipe de uma UTIN. Contudo, evidencia-se lacuna no que se refere à resposta do RNPT durante o posicionamento correlacionando os diferentes decúbitos durante a hospitalização, bem como a comparação entre protocolos padronizados e procedimentos de rotina da UTIN. Para tanto, o objetivo principal desta pesquisa foi comparar as respostas fisiológicas, comportamentais e à dor apresentadas pelos RNPT submetidos a um Procedimento Operacional Padrão (POP) de posicionamento corporal com aqueles sob posicionamento de rotina da UTIN. Estudo quantitativo, prospectivo, do tipo ensaio clínico randomizado, realizado no período de julho de 2015 a março de 2016 com 30 RNPT internados na UTIN de um hospital escola do Oeste do Paraná. Os sujeitos foram separados randomicamente em grupo Decúbito de Rotina da Unidade (DRU) e Grupo Intervenção (GI), em que este foi submetido a protocolo de posicionamento previamente validado e proposto no ano de 2015. As variáveis analisadas no estudo foram: características fisiológicas (frequência respiratória, frequência cardíaca e saturação periférica de oxigênio); comportamento (mensurado pela escala de Brazelton modificada - EBM) e dor (verificada pela escala Neonatal Infant Pain Scale - NIPS). A amostra do estudo constituiu-se por RNPT com idade gestacional para ambos os grupos predominantemente entre 28 e 32 semanas e o peso ao nascimento entre 1001 e 1499 gramas, caracterizando a amostra como muito prematuros e de muito baixo peso. Em relação às variáveis fisiológicas observou-se durante todo o procedimento que a frequência cardíaca no DRU manteve-se menor em relação aos valores apresentados pelo GI; a Frequência Respiratória (FR) no DRU apresentou-se maior quando comparada ao GI e os valores de saturação periférica de oxigênio mantiveram-se estáveis nos dois grupos. O comportamento do RNPT, pela EBM e a dor pela NIPS, apresentaram escores semelhantes em ambos os grupos antes do inicio do procedimento, porém, significativamente menor no GI durante a intervenção. Aponta-se então, que o POP de posicionamento proporcionou redução da FR, nos escores das escalas de dor e comportamento, quando comparadas ao DRU. Acredita-se que um posicionamento padronizado na hospitalização contribuirá em longo prazo para o DNPM adequado

Class of 2012 Abstract / Specific Aims: The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare clinical outcomes and cost involved with use of poractant versus beractant for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in a level III, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) within an academic medical center. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients if they were admitted to the NICU for RDS between April 1, 2010 to November 30, 2010 and December 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011 treated with beractant and poractant respectively. Patients were excluded from the study if they were greater than 35 weeks gestational age and survived less than 48 hours. This is a review and the information needed from the patients was submitted in a data extraction form. Data collected included demographic variables (age, birthweight, birth length, gender, and race/ ethnicity), FiO2 measurement, mechanical ventilation time, length of hospitalization in the NICU, the incidence complications in the first 28 days, number of doses given, use of the nasal CPAP, concurrent complications or comorbidites such as pulmonary hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, patent ductus arteriosis, intraventricular hemorrhage, and retinopathy of maturity. Main Results: Data from 27 neonates in beractant and 13 in poractant groups were collected. The FiO2 measurements in both groups were generally similar. However, FiO2 was consistently lower in the poractant group. (p = 0.044 from a runs statistical test) Conclusions: The FiO2 measurement is poractant group was lower compared with beractant group, however the difference was noted to be not statistically significant.

Bakgrund: Inom neonatal intensivvård vårdas prematura barn med sina föräldrar och personalen bör ha ett helhetsperspektiv på barnet och dess familj. Två metoder som används för att bland annat skapa förutsättningar för föräldra- barnkontakt, är Newborn Individualized Development Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) och känguruvård. Det finns ett flertal hinder som kan försvåra föräldra- barnkontakten när ett barn föds prematurt och sjuksköterskan har en central roll i att främja kontakten. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att belysa upplevelsen av att bli förälder till ett prematurt barn i behov av neonatal intensivvård. Metod: Datainsamlingen har skett genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. Totalt intervjuades fem föräldrar/föräldrapar. Materialet har analyserats med inspiration av kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat: I berättelserna om föräldrarnas upplevelser identifierades ett övergripande tema, Mitt barns liv vilar i era händer, baserat på både positiva och negativa upplevelser från deras tid inom neonatal intensivvård. Detta tema bygger på sex kategorier: Trygg med personalen, Att få bli barnets förälder, Nöjd familj, Otrygg med personalen, Svårigheter att bli barnets förälder och Brist på samtal. Slutsats: När ett barn föds prematurt och är i behov av neonatal intensivvård finns det faktorer som personalen kan påverka för att underlätta den tidiga föräldra- barnkontakten. Klinisk betydelse: Med en ökad medvetenhet hos personal inom neonatal intensivvård om vad föräldrarna upplever som positivt/negativt i vården kan denna utvecklas och förbättras. En del i detta är att göra föräldrarna mer delaktiga i vården. / Background: In the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit premature infants and their parents are cared for, the staff´s holistic approach to the infant and their family is essential. Two methods used to create opportunities for contact between the parent and the infant are NIDCAP and kangaroo care. There are several obstacles that may hinder this contact when an infant is born prematurely and the nurse has a key role in promoting this contact. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to enlighten the experience of being the parent of a premature infant in need of Neonatal Intensive Care. Methods: Data collection was made through semi-structured interviews. Five parents /couple of parents were interviewed. The material has been analyzed with the inspiration of qualitative content analysis. Result: In the interviews with the parents an overarching theme were identified, My infant's life rests in your hands, based on both the positive and negative experiences during their time in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The theme is based on six categories: Secure with the staff, Becoming a parent, Happy family, Insecurity with the personnel, Difficulties to become the infant's parent, and Lack of dialogue. Conclusion: When an infant is born prematurely and in the need of Neonatal Intensive Care there are factors that the staff can affect in order to facilitate the early parent-child contact. Clinical significance: With an increased awareness among the neonatal intensive care staff what parents perceive as the positive/ negative, the care can be developed and improved. A part of this is to make parents more involved in the care of their infants.

This thesis presents the development and evaluation of a computerized physician-parent decision support tool for a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), known as Physician and Parent Decision Support (PPADS). The NICU is a specialized hospital unit that treats very-ill neonates. Many difficult care decisions are made daily for this vulnerable population. The PPADS tool aims to augment current NICU decision-making by helping parents and physicians make more informed decisions, improving physician-parent communication, increasing parent decision-making satisfaction, decreasing conflict, and increasing decision efficiency. The development of the PPADS tool followed a five-step methodology: assessing the clinical environment, establishing the design criteria, developing the system design, implementing the system, and performing usability testing. Usability testing of the PPADS tool was performed on neonatologists and on parents of neonates who have graduated (survived) from a tertiary level NICU. The usability testing demonstrated the usefulness and ease of use of the tool.

This descriptive comparative and correlational study was designed to determine the degree of environmental stress perceived by mothers and fathers during the first week of their infant's admission to a Special Care Nursery (SCN) and to determine the differences in their perceptions. In addition, the variables of gestational age, birth weight and paternal attitude toward caregiving were investigated for their relationship to the perceived degree of environmental stress. A convenience sample of 31 sets of parents was selected from a tertiary level SCN in a large urban children's hospital. Both parents completed the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Parental Stress Scale and an information sheet; fathers also completed the Paternal Attitude Scale. Overall, mothers and fathers perceived the SCN environment as a low source of stress. Mothers were moderately stressed by their altered parental role. In addition, mothers were significantly more stressed by the environmental aspects of SCN and the total SCN experience than were fathers. Environmental stress arising from staff communications and relations was significantly negatively related to birth weight and gestational age. No significant relationship was found between paternal attitude toward care giving and the fathers' perception of environmental stress. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Nursing, School of / Graduate

D.Cur. / The goal of this research was to generate and describe a support approach for the advanced practitioner in psychiatric nursing to utilize for the neonatal intensive care nurse, working in a neonatal intensive care unit, in order to promote, to maintain and to restore mental health as integral part of health. Many changes occurred in the health care industry during the twentieth century. In South Africa, health care and social services that have developed, are grossly inefficient and inadequate. The Reconstruction and Development Program (R.D.P.), (1994:42-47), of the government of National Unity, designed therefore a number of programs to restructure the health care services , in order to contribute to the increasing prosperity and quality of life for all South Africans. Free health care has thus to be provided in the public sector for children under six, pregnant and nursing mothers. Free health care makes it more accessible for thousands of people who have avoided seeking help in the past, because of lack of funds. This large influx of patients to health facilities has placed a strain on staff, due to the increased workload. The neonatal intensive care nurses' workload and responsibilities have thus increased.