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Effects of sponge bathing on vagal tone and behavioural responses in premature infants
Author(s) -
LEE HAEKYUNG
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of clinical nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1365-2702
pISSN - 0962-1067
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2702.2002.00594.x
Subject(s) - bathing , neonatal intensive care unit , heart rate , vagal tone , medicine , gestational age , heart rate variability , oxygen saturation , anesthesia , intensive care , intensive care unit , pediatrics , blood pressure , intensive care medicine , oxygen , pregnancy , biology , genetics , chemistry , organic chemistry , pathology
• The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of sponge bathing on physiological (vagal tone, heart rate, heart period, oxygen saturation) and behavioural responses in newly born premature infants in the intensive care unit of a university hospital in South Korea. • A convenience sample was taken of 40 infants who were between 27 and 36 weeks gestational age at birth and free of congenital defects. • The infants' physiological parameters were recorded 10 min before, during and after bathing. To determine behavioural status, tools were modified from the instruments used in a previous study by Scafidi et al . (1990). • Analysis of the results showed that the premature infants reacted to sponge bathing with decreases in vagal tone and heart period and increases in heart rate. Oxygen saturation did not demonstrate any remarkable alteration during bathing. Also, there were no significant differences in behavioural signs, motor activity and behavioural distress. • Results of this study indicated that nurses in a neonatal intensive care unit should decide according to a premature infant's physiological state whether or not to give a sponge bath.