The purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge and performance of Developmental Positioning Care for Premature Infants (DPCPI) among NICU nurses and to provide baseline data for the development of nurse education program on DPCPI.
Participants in this study were 131 nurses working in NICU from five university hospital in Daejeon and Chungcheong area. The NICU nurses’knowledge and performance of DPCPI questionnaires were developed by authors based on literature review, premature infants positioning guidelines(Northern Neonatal Network Guideline: Guideline for family centered developmental care, 2014; Wales Neonatal Network Guideline: Supportive positioning guideline, 2015). Data were collected from July 1 to October 14, 2017.
The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficients using SPSS/WIN 22.0 program.

The results of this study were as following;
1. Only 10.7% of participants had educational experience on DPCPI, 97.7% of them responded the need for nursing training education on DPCPI.
2. NICU nurses’average developmental positioning care knowledge score was 24.7 out of 33.0(=74.8 out of 100), and mean correct answer rate was 74.9%. The knowledge items that showed a low correct answer rate were mainly about the principles of DPCPI.
3. NICU nurses’average developmental positioning care performance score was 3.2 out of 4.0(=80 out of 100).
4. Nurses’knowledge of DPCPI was significantly different by education (F=4.95, p=.009), position(F=6.50, p=.002), years worked in the NICU (F=3.53, p=.032), NICU nurses’educational experience of DPCPI(t=-3.69, p=.001) and need for nursing education of DPCPI(t=-2.25, p=.026).
5. Of the reasons for not practicing DPCPI in nursing performance, 40.9% were work overload, followed by 24.4% were lack of education and 14.2% were movement of premature baby.
6. There were statistically positive correlation noted between knowledge and performance of DPCPI(r=.32, p<.001).

From the above results, the level of NICU nurses’knowledge and performance of DPCPI was still low. To promote the level of NICU nurses’knowledge and performance of DPCPI, the educational programs should be developed and to verify its effectiveness. Further research needed to add an empirical data of the DPCPI status and its affecting factors among nurses working in NICU.