# Impact of teach-back-based training on maternal discharge readiness and the readmission of preterm infants admitted to the NICU: a quasi-experimental study

## TL;DR

Teach-back training improved mothers' readiness for discharging preterm infants from the NICU but did not reduce readmission rates.

## Contribution

Demonstrates the effectiveness of teach-back training in improving maternal discharge readiness in NICU settings.

## Key findings

- Mothers in the teach-back group had significantly higher discharge readiness scores after the intervention.
- No significant difference in neonatal readmission rates between the groups during the one-month follow-up.
- Teach-back training is recommended for inclusion in nursing education and care plans.

## Abstract

Mothers of premature infants admitted to the NICU often experience high levels of stress and feelings of unpreparedness for their infants’ discharge. Identifying effective training methods is crucial for enhancing mothers’ ability to provide optimal care at home. This study aimed to determine the effect of teach-back-based training on mothers’ readiness for discharge and the rate of readmission among premature infants admitted to the NICU.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 66 mothers of premature infants hospitalized in the NICU of Shahid Rahimi Hospital, Khorramabad, Iran, during 2022–2023. The control group received standard ward-based training. In the intervention group, nurses applied the teach-back training method after completing a workshop and a two-week pilot implementation. The data collection tools included a discharge readiness checklist and a newborn readmission form. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test and paired and independent t-tests.

Before the intervention, the mean discharge readiness scores did not differ significantly between the groups. However, after the intervention, the mean discharge readiness score in the intervention group (43.12 ± 8.47) was significantly higher than that in the control group (36.60 ± 4.01) (P = 0.001). During the one-month follow-up after discharge, the rate of neonatal readmission did not differ significantly between the groups (P = 0.054).

Teach-back-based training effectively improved discharge readiness among mothers in NICU. It is recommended that this method be incorporated into care plans and nursing and midwifery curricula. Also, address nursing shortages so that nurses have time for this personalized training.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-025-13926-9.