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Consistent and collaborative approaches to reduce preventable deaths: a safe infant sleeping educational resource designed for health professionals
Abstract   Peer reviewed

Consistent and collaborative approaches to reduce preventable deaths: a safe infant sleeping educational resource designed for health professionals

Jeanine Young, A Williams, J Ramsbotham and N Higgins
Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, Vol.5(2), pp.126-127
SIDS International Conference, 10th (Portsmouth, United Kingdom, 23-Jun-2008–26-Jun-2008)
2009
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-008-9058-4
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https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-008-9058-4View
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Abstract

Clinical Sciences
Objective: To improve health professional knowledge, attitude, and practice deficits relating to sudden unexpected deaths in infancy (SUDI) and Safe Sleeping messages. Methods: A pre-test/post-test intervention design evaluated knowledge, attitudes, and practices relating to SUDI and Safe Sleeping (SS) in a sample of nurses and midwives caring for families with infants (n = 393): (a) pre-test survey and audit (observational and chart); (b) educational intervention including evidence relating to SUDI and SS recommendations; and (c) post-test survey and audit to evaluate intervention effectiveness. Results: Pre-test results identified knowledge, attitude, and practice deficits. Of the 230 respondents, only 166 (72%) provided parent education about SS in care and discharge planning, despite working with infants and families. Most (196, 85%) nurses advised parents to use supine positioning for healthy babies, but only 147 (64%) advised parents to place babies with reflux supine to sleep. Two-thirds of staff (152, 66%) indicated that they would recommend wrapping in the supine position as an alternative settling/sleep strategy for a 2-month infant placed prone. Documentation of SS education was poor prior to the intervention. The intervention achieved significant positive changes in knowledge of risk factors; recommended infant sleep position, effective infant wrapping, and plagiocephaly prevention. Conclusions: The Safe Sleeping resource was implemented throughout Queensland in a variety of clinical and community settings in 2008. Resource sharing, consistency, key stakeholder collaboration, and effective change management were integral to the educational resource being evidence-based, user-friendly, accessible, and a sustainable mode of health professional support. Collaborative approaches involving consistent information and resource sharing between all key stakeholder groups, supported at a national level, will facilitate Safe Sleeping initiatives being sustained long term.

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