Continuous primary nursing care increases satisfaction with nursing care and reduces postpartum problems for hospitalized pregnant women

• Published in: Contemporary nurse : a journal for the Australian nursing profession Vol. 37; no. 2; pp. 149 - 159
• Main Authors: Wan, Hongwei, Hu, Senqi, Thobaben, Marshelle, Hou, Yanwen, Yin, Tao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 01.02.2011; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Breast Feeding; Breastfeeding; China; Continuity of Patient Care; continuous primary nursing care; early postpartum health problem; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Nursing; Nursing Care - methods; obstetric nursing; Patient Satisfaction; Postpartum depression; Pregnancy; pregnant woman; Pregnant women; Prenatal Care; Primary nursing; Psychological aspects; Puerperal Disorders - prevention & control; task-centered nursing care; Urinary Retention - prevention & control; China
• ISSN: 1037-6178; 1839-3535
• DOI: 10.5172/conu.2011.37.2.149

Objective: To compare the differences in practicing continuous primary nursing care (CPNC) versus task-centered nursing care (TCNC) with regard to patient satisfaction with nursing care and early postpartum health problems for hospitalized pregnant women. Design: All participants filled out the satisfaction with nursing care questionnaire, breastfeeding knowledge questionnaire, and early postpartum problem questionnaire. Setting: Participants in the CPNC group received continuous individualized primary nursing care and participants in the TCNC group received task-centered nursing care during their perinatal period. Participants: Using a randomized controlled trial, 470 hospitalized pregnant women participated in the study with 230 pregnant women in the CPNC group and 240 in TCNC group. Data Analysis: Questionnaire data were collected, calculated, and statistically analyzed using independent t-tests or χ 2 tests along with power analysis. Results: Participants in the CPNC group reported significantly higher overall satisfaction with nursing care (t(468) = 5.936, p < .001), had more breastfeeding knowledge (t(468) = 5.633, p < .001), and were more likely to breast feed six weeks after delivery (χ 2 (1) = 39.237, p < .001) than those in the TCNC group. Participants in the CPNC group also showed a significantly lower occurrence of postpartum urinary retention (Fisher exact test was used, p < .002) and breast discomfort (χ 2 (3) = 34.482, p < .001) than those in the TCNC group. Conclusion: Practicing continuous primary nursing care was more effective than practicing traditional task-centered nursing care for hospitalized pregnant women in increasing satisfaction with nursing care, enhancing breastfeeding, and reducing early postpartum problems.