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Abstract Preventing and caring for neonates with skin breakdown is a high priority in neonatal care. Aim of the study: To evaluate the impact of an educational program for pediatric nurses on prevention of skin breakdown in neonatal intensive care units. Design: A quasi-experimental, one-group (pre, immediately post, and follow up) research design was used. Setting: The study was conducted in neonatal intensive care units at four hospitals (El Salam, Al Hayat, the Woman Health, and EL-Nasr Specialized Hospital for Children) affiliated to the Egypt Health Care Authority- Universal Health Insurance Authority (UHIA) in Port Said governorate. Sample: A Convenience sample of nurses (70) who were working at the previously mentioned settings and 50 neonates in each program phase (150) who admitted during the time of data collection. Tools of data collection: a structured questionnaire to assess the studied nurses’ knowledge about prevention of skin breakdown in NICU, an observational checklist to assess the actual nurses’ preventive practices of skin breakdown in NICU, and the Neonatal Skin Condition Score scale. Results: There was an improvement in the total knowledge scores of the studied nurses regarding prevention of skin breakdown immediately post program, and follow up, which were 92.9% and 80% respectively compared with 24.3% of them had satisfactory total knowledge scores pre program implementation. Also, improvement in the total practices scores of the studied nurses occurred throughout the program phases from 11.4% of them had adequate total practices score pre program to 85.7% immediately post and declined to 62.9% at the follow up phase. Furthermore, there was an improvement in NSCS post program and at the follow up phase. Conclusion: The study concluded that implementation of the educational program was effective in improving nurses’ knowledge and practices as well as reducing skin breakdown in the neonates in NICUS. |