Sakiko Shigemoto and Miho Narama
Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of Parental Perceptions of Toddlers and Preschoolers Feeding Assessment Index (PPTPFAI) scores of parents with preterm children through comparisons with full-term children; to identify factors associated with PPTPFAI for preterm children; and to obtain recommendations for nursing care aimed at supporting parents who feed preterm children.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of parents of pre- and full-term toddlers and preschoolers using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire and an interview. We performed descriptive statistical analysis using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient and Mann-Whitney U test. We set the PPTPFAI as the dependent variable and performed a stepwise multiple regression analysis.
Results: Comparisons of the PPTPFAI total score or the individual sub factor scores between the 76 preterm children and 76 full-term children revealed no significant difference. We found no significant correlation between gestational age at birth, physique at birth, or duration of hospitalization directly after birth and PPTPFAI total score or individual sub factor scores in parents of preterm children. The main factors influencing the PPTPFAI score were the child’s reaction score, child’s age, and Parenting Stress Index-Short Form score.
Conclusion: For parents to feel that they are supporting their preterm children’s eating on their own initiative, it is important to focus nursing care on the perceptions of parents of their preterm children’s reactions as well as parenting stress.
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