title: Effect of home visit training program on growth and development of preterm infants: a double blind randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Home visit program can be effective in infants' growth and development. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of home visit program on preterm infants' growth and development within 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a double-blind clinical trial study. The study was conducted in Hafez, Hazrat-e-Zeinab, and Namazee Hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran from 2010 to 2011. Preterm infants were divided into intervention (n=30) and control groups (n=30) through blocked randomization. The intervention group received home visit training program for 6 months, while the control group only received the hospital's routine care. Then, the infants' growth indexes, including weight, height, and head circumference, and development criteria were compared on the first day of admission in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and then first, second, third, and sixth months. The data were analyzed using Chi-square, independent t-test, and repeated measures ANCOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean weight of the intervention and control group infants was 7207.3±1129.74 and 6366.7±922.26 gr in the sixth month. Besides, the intervention group infants' mean weight was higher compared to the control group after six months (t=-3.05, P=0.03). Also, a significant difference was found between the two groups regarding development indexes, such as following moving objects with the head, keeping the head stable when changing the position from lying to sitting,  producing "Agha" sound, and taking objects by hand (P<0.05) during six months of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that the home visit program was effective in preterm infants' weight gain and some development indexes at the sixth month. Considering the importance of infants' growth and development, healthcare staff is recommended to incorporate home visit training into their programs, so that steps can be taken towards improvement of preterm infants' health.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  IRCT2014082013690N3
authors.affiliation: Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, Department of Pediatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran;
authors.forename: Mitra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edraki
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran;
authors.forename: Hossian
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moravej
authors.affiliation: Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoume
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rambod
keywords: Development; Growth; Home visit; Preterm infant