Evaluation of the effect of discharge education on neonatal outcomes in women with gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a medical condition of carbohydrate intolerance which can adversely affect the fetus and newborn. The best way to reduce the complication of gestational diabetes is education that is applicable to all patients. This study was performed aimed to evaluate the effect of discharge education on neonatal outcomes in women with gestational diabetes. This clinical trial study was performed on 126 Patients at 28-36 weeks of pregnancy with gestational diabetes in 2013. The patients were divided into 2 test groups and 1 control group. The first test group received 2 sessions of 40 minutes of training. The second test group received an instructional booklet. The control group received routine hospital education. Data was analyzed by SPSS software (version 16) and Fisher''s exact، Chi-square، ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests. P0= 0. 5 and P1= 0. 1 were considered. Among the studied outcomes، the incidence of jaundice in the first week was statistically significantly different between studied groups (P=0. 027)، So that in both methods، the percentage of infants hospitalized because of jaundice in the first week was lower than the control group. but، there was no statistically significant difference between different studied groups in terms of birth weight (P= 0. 829)، hypoglycemia (P= 0. 294)، hypocalcemia (P= 0. 294). Discharge education to mothers especially in patients with gestational diabetes can affect neonatal outcomes، therefore، it leads to increased health of the neonates of this risky group and reduced hospital costs due to decrease in neonate''s hospitalization.