BOHNEN MRI MODEL: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STIMULUS OVERLOAD AND MATERNAL RECEPTIVITY TO INSTRUCTION DURING THE FIRST TWO HOURS POSTPARTUM (SELF CARE, POST BIRTH, TAKING-IN PHASE).
Contributors: University of San Francisco.
Published: 1984
Number of pages: 190
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Is the phenomenon of stimulus overload related to maternal receptivity to instruction (MRI) during the first two hours postpartum (PP)? Within the context of Rubin's taking-in phase of PP maternal adaptation, this study investigated the individual and collective effects of stimulus overload variables including child birth class attendance, nonpregnant attributes, bonding time, maternal parity, paternal presence, incentive, labor length, method of delivery, and pain medication on maternal receptivity to self care instructions during the first two hours PP. The Bohnen MRI Model, a graphic respresentation of the relationships under study was tested.

One hundred twenty PP mothers 19 to 34 years old, who experienced healthy pregnancies, labor and deliveries, and who delivered live neonates vaginally or by cesarean section at Kaiser Hospital, Sacramento, California were subjects of the study. Participants received self care instructions the first two hours after childbirth, immediately after which they completed criterion referenced tests (CRT). Information relative to the stimulus overload predictors were obtained from maternal obstetric records. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the data.

A multiple R of .51 was found. Method of delivery, maternal parity, incentive, and paternal presence were identified as the best predictors of MRI explaining 25% of the variance in CRT scores. A revised MRI model was representative of the relationship between these 4 stimulus overload variables and MRI during the first two hours PP.

Findings suggest that most Mothers were receptive to self care instruction within two hours after childbirth. Associations between stimulus overload predictors and MRI, and their intercorrelations, indicate that vaginally delivered primiparas, with less frequent vaginal examinations with labor progress updates, and who had their neonates' fathers present during childbirth were likely to be most receptive to self care instructions.

This investigation's findings have implications for planning appropriate self care instructions during the taking-in phase. Findings suggest a need for obstetric nurses to re-evaluate current PP self care instruction practices and to scrutinize closely maternal records for sources of stimulus prior to initiating instruction.

Replication of this inquiry using different stimulus overload predictors, instructional content and populations is recommended.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-05, Section: B, page: 1509.

Thesis (ED.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO, 1984.

School code: 6019.