Contacts experienced by neonates in intensive care environments.
A descriptive study which explored the types and frequency of contacts experienced by 16 neonates in intensive care environments is reported. Time-sampling methodology, which involved one observation every 20 seconds over a 2-hour period, was utilized. Observations were made during daylight hours, one subject at a time, for a total of 4 subjects in each of the following time periods: 9-11, 11-1, 1-3, and 3-5. Contacts were divided into two categories: direct and indirect. Direct contact included three subcategories: treatment-oriented procedures, activities of daily living, and comforting touch. Direct contacts constituted 63% of all contacts, half of those being treatment-oriented procedures. Activity-of-daily-living and comforting touch contacts comprised 15% and 16% of contacts respectively. Nurses performed the majority of the contacts.
Pohlman
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S
Beardslee
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C
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001513:Beds; D002673:Child, Hospitalized; D006234:Handling, Psychological; D006744:Hospital Bed Capacity, 100 to 299; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000523:psychology*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D013997:Time Factors; D014110:Touch; D014481:United States