Animation-Supported Infant Sleep Safety Education

The Effect of Animation-Supported Education Developed for Infant Sleep Safety on Pediatric Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes: A Mixed-Methods Study

The aim of this research is to evaluate the effect of animation-supported sleep safety training on the knowledge and attitudes of pediatric nurses. Sleep is one of the primary factors affecting an individual's cognitive development, learning capacity, and memory from the neonatal period through adulthood. Regulating the sleep environment plays a critical role in establishing sleep architecture; for efficient and safe sleep, the environment must be free from external stimuli such as temperature extremes and light . Ensuring standardization in infant sleep safety will both improve sleep quality and reduce the risk of sleep-related deaths, such as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Since prone sleeping positions and bed-sharing are the primary factors increasing the risk of sleep-related deaths, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends creating a separate sleep area and supine positioning as safe sleep practices However, various studies have demonstrated that families' and pediatric nurses' knowledge levels regarding SIDS vary based on cultural practices, that common practices in sleep safety need to be disseminated, and that current training is insufficient . Nurses are the health professionals from whom families receive the most support during hospitalization and discharge processes. Technological advancements bring rapid changes in healthcare practices, necessitating the integration of technology into education to train qualified health professionals. Therefore, it is of great importance to train nurses with the most up-to-date and effective methods and to improve their knowledge and attitudes using digitally supported materials enriched with visual and auditory elements.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pediatric nurse working in a neonatal intensive care unit, infant ward, or newborn nursery.
• No previous training on infant sleep safety.
• Willing to participate in the study and provide informed consent.
• Available to complete all study assessments.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not working in the target clinical units.
• Previous participation in infant sleep safety training.
• Refusal to participate or provide informed consent.
• Incomplete participation in the data collection process.
• Administrative position.
• Temporary assignment or staff rotation during the study period.