Are We Satisfied with the Umbilical Cord Clamps?

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine the opinions of mothers and healthcare workers about the currently used umbilical cord clamps. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 150 mothers with 0–1-month-old infants who were admitted to the university hospital were interviewed. In the survey conducted with health workers, no sample selection was made, and all midwives, nurses, and doctors (n=55) work in the field of obstetrics and pediatrics were interviewed. The surveys were prepared via literature review and taking obstetrics and pediatrics expert opinions. Satisfaction, problems, and views about the currently used umbilical cord clamps were included in the survey applied to mothers. In the survey conducted with health workers, the thoughts about the clamp and problems they had while clamping the umbilical cord were included. RESULTS: When mothers’ views on clamp dimensions were examined, 64.7% stated that the clamp was bigger than necessary. Among the problems related to the clamp, 53.3% of mothers were afraid of the accidental clamp slippage while taking off the baby clothes; 66.7% of the mothers stated that they would prefer a different design clamp. 54.5% of healthcare workers indicated that they had problems with clamp (slipping from hand when inserting, difficulty in locking). 74.5% responded positively about the need for a different design clamp. CONCLUSION: Our observations and the results obtained from the surveys agree with the fact that parents and health personnel frequently raise doubts and problems about the traditional umbilical clamps. It may be recommended to repeat the research in different institutions by increasing the sample size and conducting research for a novel umbilical clamp design.