Effects of newborn care education for first-time fathers on their knowledge and confidence in newborn care

Background: First-time fathers experience difficulties in caring for newborn. However, education programs for fathers are very limited in Korea. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of newborn care education for fathers on the fathers’ knowledge and confidence in caring for their babies. Methods: Research was performed with nonequivalent control group pretest posttest design. The study participants were 53 first-time fathers of newborns, consisted of 27 persons in experimental group, and 26 persons in control group, recruited at the nursery of one municipal hospital in Seoul, Korea. For experimental group, a 50-minute education on newborn care using video, verbal education, demonstration and practice were provided prior to discharge. Fathers’ knowledge and confidence in newborn care and their satisfaction on education program were measured immediately after the education and one month after discharge. Results: The fathers in the experimental group showed significantly higher knowledge (t=-4.51, p<.001), and confidence in newborn care (t=-2.29, p=.026) compared to the control group in posttest measured immediately after the education before discharge. In experimental group, knowledge and confidence in newborn care was still higher than pre-test at one month after the discharge. The fathers’ satisfaction in the experimental group was 27.37(±2.73) immediately after the education, and 25.30(±3.40) at one month after the discharge on 30 points scale. Conclusion: Newborn care education for first-time fathers is effective method in enhancing the level of knowledge and confidence in newborn care. It can be used at nursery department before discharge as a useful nursing intervention.