To explore the effect of educational intervention based on timing theory on mothers of premature infants.

Using the convenience sampling method, 80 mothers of premature infants hospitalized in the Neonatology Department of Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities from May 2019 to October 2020 were included in this study. According to the time of admission, they were divided into the control group (42 cases) and the observation group (38 cases). The mothers in the control group were given routine educational guidance during the hospitalization of premature infants, while the mothers in the observation group were given comprehensive educational intervention based on timing theory on the basis of the control group. The mothers′ caring ability during the transition period, breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding rate at a month after discharge, and mother′s coping ability at 3 months after discharge were compared between the two groups.

There were 35 cases in each group completed the study. The observation group scored (100.86 ± 6.22) on the maternal care ability of premature infants in transition period, and the control group scored (89.51 ± 4.17), the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t=-8.97, P<0.05). The breastfeeding self-efficacy score of the observation group a month after discharge from hospital was (47.83 ± 2.54) points, which was higher than (41.20 ± 1.97) points of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (t=-12.21, P<0.05). The breastfeeding rate a month after discharge in the observation group was 62.9% (22/35), which was higher than 37.1% (13/35) in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (χ²=4.63, P<0.05). The maternal coping ability scores of the premature infants in the observation group and control group 3 months after discharge were (119.29 ± 6.03) and (113.66 ± 6.59) points respectively, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t=-3.73, P<0.05).

The educational intervention based on timing theory can help mothers of premature infants master the nursing knowledge and skills, strengthen the mother′s transitional care ability and post-discharge coping ability, improve the breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding rate of premature infants, promote and development the growth of premature infants, worthy of clinical application.

Mothers; Health education; Premature infant; Timing theory