Attitudes and Experiences Among Swedish NICU Nurses Regarding Skin-to-Skin Care of Infants Born at 22-23 Weeks of Gestation.

Background: Skin-to-skin care (SSC) is an evidence-based care method for preterm-born infants. Staff may hesitate to initiate early SSC, the first or second week of life, for the most extremely preterm infants; 1 reason could be nurses' attitudes.

Purpose: The aim was to investigate the attitudes and experiences of neonatal nurses regarding early SSC for the most extremely preterm infants, born at gestational week (GW) 22-23, using an exploratory and descriptive approach.

Methods: A web-based survey was sent to all nurses across the 6 Swedish units routinely caring for the most extremely preterm infants. Descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis were used to analyze the data.

Results: The response rate was 258 out of 547 (47%). This study reveals a spectrum of attitudes and experiences among nurses, ranging from viewing early SSC as an integral aspect of infant care to deeming it very challenging or simply not feasible. The outcomes are presented in 2 categories, describing both facilitators and challenges associated with early SSC. Noteworthy, facilitators include well-implemented guidelines that support early SSC. Conversely, challenges encompass knowledge gaps and the scarcity of scientific evidence demonstrating the safety of all SSC, including early, for the most extremely preterm infants.

Implications for practice and research: This study underscores the importance of spreading knowledge, and has clinical adapted guidelines about the practical aspects of SSC for infants born at 22-23 GW. Future research is required to clarify safety aspects pertaining to SSC for the most extremely preterm infants.