Comparison of the Effects of Educational Multimedia Film and Training Booklet on the Maternal Self-Efficacy and Infant Care Behavior of Primiparous Mothers: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Different training methods have been used to educate mothers; however, access to the new educational technologies has led to the spread of virtual methods including the electronic software. This study was carried out with the aim of comparing the effect of the educational multimedia film and training booklet on the maternal self-efficacy and infant care behavior of primiparous mothers. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was done on 126 pregnant women who referred to the health care centers of Miyandoaab City from February to May in 2016. The Participants of the study were assigned into two intervention groups (42 mothers received training with the educational multimedia film and 42 mothers received training through the training booklet) and a control group (42 mothers received routine trainings after childbirth) through a randomized block design. A training session was provided orally to the participants in both intervention groups. Then they were provided with the booklet or the educational multimedia film. The questionnaires of the maternal self-efficacy and the infant care behavior were completed by the participants in all three groups at the beginning of the intervention and at the end of fourth week of postpartum. In order to compare the mean scores of the maternal self-efficacy and the infant care behavior among the study groups, one-way ANOVA was applied before the intervention and ANCOVA was used after the intervention with the control of the baseline scores. Results: All three groups were similar in terms of the demographic and midwifery characteristics except the educational level of the mothers and the spouse’s education and job and also interest of their spouses to the sex of the fetus that these variables were also adjusted in the statistical tests. Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between the mean scores of the maternal self-efficacy (P=0.192) and infant care behavior (P=0.556) in the studied groups. Controlling the baseline values, a statistically significant increase was observed in the mean scores of the maternal self-efficacy in the booklet group (Adjusted Mean Difference: 3.9; Confidence Interval 95%: 5.4 to 2.4) and in the educational multimedia film (2.7; 4.2 to 2.3) compared to the control group; however, no statistically significant difference was observed between the two educational booklet and the educational multimedia film groups in terms of the mean scores of the maternal self-efficacy. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference in the infant care behavior mean score between the studied groups at the end of the forth week after childbirth (P=0.937). Conclusion: The results indicate the effectiveness of both the educational multimedia film and the training booklet methods in enhancing the maternal self-efficacy. Therefore, it is recommended to use these training methods to educate the mothers.