The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the use of clinical guidelines in kangaroo care (KB) practice on neonatal and maternal outcomes in premature infants.

The study was a single-blind, parallel group (experimental-control), randomized controlled experimental design with pretest-posttest design.

It was carried out in the neonatal intensive care unit of Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine Hospital in Konya province. Study data were collected from 40 premature newborns between September 2022 and November 2022. Premature infants in the intervention (n = 20) and control groups (n = 20) were determined by randomization method.

Kangaroo care was applied to the intervention group with the Kangaroo Care Guide created by reviewing the current literature, and kangaroo care was applied to the control group with the standard kangaroo care method of the clinic. Data were collected using the Descriptive Information Form, Physiological Parameters Form, Neonatal Comfort Behavior Scale, Nurse-Parent Support Scale, Parental Satisfaction Scale and Kangaroo Care Guide/Checklist for Infants Without Respiratory Support.

Premature infants were followed up with skin-to-skin contact with their mothers in kangaroo care for 65 minutes. In the study, physiological parameters and Neonatal Comfort Behavior Scale scores of premature infants and Nurse-Parent Support Scale and Parental Satisfaction Scale scores of mothers were evaluated. Pearson Chi-Square Test, Yates Correction and Fisher's Exact Test were used to compare categorical data according to groups. Two Independent Sample t Test was used to compare normally distributed variables and Mann Whitney U Test was used to compare non-normally distributed variables. Statistical significance level was accepted as p˂0.05.

Inclusion Criteria:

For premature infants;

• The baby is born before 36+6 weeks of gestation
• Stability of vital parameters at the time of application,
• Stable health status (cardiorespiratory stability, no congenital or chromosomal abnormalities, no history of intraventricular hemorrhage, no history of periventricular leukomalacia and NEC, no systemic and metabolic disorders),

For mothers;

• Willingness to participate in the research
• Being able to read and write Turkish

Exclusion Criteria:

For premature infants;

• Being connected to a mechanical ventilator
• Congenital or chromosomal abnormality
• Being with deprivation syndrome
• Having a history of intraventricular hemorrhage

For mothers; Not being willing to care for kangaroos

- Having a physical disability to care for kangaroos

Single blinding (to mothers) was performed in this study. Care provider blinding was performed because the mothers did not know whether kangaroo care was carried out in accordance with a guide. In addition, because the premature babies in the study would not know which group they were in, participant blinding was performed.

In order to prevent bias in the analysis phase of the data; Analysis was done by an independent statistician. After the statistical analysis was completed and the report of the research was prepared, it was explained how the intervention and control groups were coded. The intervention group was coded with '1' while the control group was coded with the number '2'.