Atefeh Estiri - Bs in Nursing, Quaem Medical Center, NICU ward
Hamidreza Zendehtalab - MSc in Community Health Nursing, Faculty member, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of medicine, Mashhad, Iran.

Introduction The family is in a crisis and a stressful experience when neonate is admitted in NICU ward. In recent decades, role of family in the care of neonates has completely changed. Now, empowerment of families in the care of neonates hospitalized is an important approach in the field of neonatal nursing . Therefore, it is necessary for parents, especially mothers with neonates in NICU ward that be done nursing professional supports. Materials and Methods This quasi-experimental study was conducted in Mashhad, Qaem Medical Center, in 2011, using before and after design. In this study, 34 women aged 19-41 years were participated voluntarily who had hospitalized neonate in the NICU ward, from June to October 2011. In order to find subjects, we interviewed 46 mothers, in a period of 5 months. Mothers were include if they could do the routine care of the newborn, their scores were less than 25 in participation checklist, the ability to read and write, not affected a physical or mental illness. Among the mothers who were interviewed 12 people were excluded from the study because: neonate mortality, discharge from the NICU unit and lack of personal interest. Finally the study was performed with 34 subjects Results paired t-test showed significant difference in the participation score of mothers in the care of neonates after the intervention than before (P= 0.000). Also, there is a significant difference among all the health belief model constructs, after the intervention than before. (P <0.05). Conclusion Based on the results of this study, it is suggested; health education models can be used in clinical research nursing and empowerment programs related to individuals, families and other groups.

health education models, NICU ward, Neonates, Family-centered care