Abstract: Objective: In order to enhance nursing quality and promote better and faster recovery of critically ill premature infants, a standardized Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) was explored and constructed. Methods: We established a multi-disciplinary team which was led by the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and assisted by the Obstetrics Department, the Nosocomial Infection Management Department and the Medical Social Work Department. The team then together set the work regulations of KMC and relevant training strategies to make sure its application in clinical practice. Results: The construction and implementation of KMC has not only effectively promoted the growth and neurological development of premature infants but also strengthened parent-infant bounding through skin-to-skin contact. Besides, it has also enabled open communication between medical staff and parents to harmonize the doctor-patient relationship. Conclusion: The KMC turns out to be a successful attempt of cross-cultural adaptation. It has so far been carried out in 47 hospitals within a medical treatment partnership system in Hunan Province and promoted to many other cities across the country.

Key words: Kangaroo Mother Care; critically ill premature infants; multidisciplinary collaboration; medical treatment partnership system; nursing quality