Abstract:
The purpose of this quasi-experimental research was to examine the effect of nursing care using goal attainment theory on anemia preventive behaviors in pregnant women. The research sample consisted of 60 pregnant women who attended Antenatal Care Clinic at Kuankanoon hospital, Patthalung province. The subjects were selected by simple random sampling using every even number of the booking queue. The subjects who met the study criteria were matched by level of income and hematocrit. The 30 pair of subjects was randomly assigned using drawing lots: the first drawing of each pair was assigned to the control group while the second drawing was assigned to the experimental group. The control group received conventional nursing care while the experimental group received nursing care using goal attainment theory. The research instrument was the "iron deficiency anemia preventive behaviors questionnaire". Data collections were done before and after given conventional nursing care and nursing care using goal attainment theory. The data were analyzed using percentage, mean, standard deviation, and dependent t-test. The major findings were as follows 1. The difference in mean scores of iron deficiency anemia preventive behaviors in pregnant women between before and after receiving nursing care using goal attainment theory was statistically significant ([X-bar] = 64.46, SD = 3.55 and [X-bar] = 54.20, SD = 6.29 respectively t = -7.58, p<.05). The mean scores of iron deficiency anemia preventive behaviors after receiving nursing care using goal attainment theory was higher than before receiving nursing care using goal attainment theory. 2. The difference in mean scores of iron deficiency anemia preventive behaviors in pregnant woment between the experimental and control group was statistically significant ([X-bar] = 64.46, SD = 3.55 and [X-bar] = 58.20, SD = 6.33 respectively t = -5.29, p<.05).The mean scores of iron deficiency anemia preventive behaviors in pregnant women receiving nursing care using goal attainment theory was higher than those receiving conventional nursing care.