Effect of kangaroo care on sleep time for neonates.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the change in behavioral state and physiologic parameters due to Kangaroo Care (K Care).


METHODS
A quasi-experimental design using a pretest-posttest with neonates serving as their own controls for 4 episodes of 1 hour each: Pre K Care, K Care and Post K Care. Twenty neonate-parent dyads participated. RespiTrace PT Non-invasive Monitoring system was used to record heart and respiratory rate and oxygen saturation. Behavioral state was derived from analyzing RespiTrace PT cardiorespiratory data as well as observation criteria.


RESULTS
There was a significant increase in sleep time for the neonates during K Care as compared to when they were not receiving K Care. The neonates exhibited less agitation, apnea, and bradycardia episodes and maintained stable oxygen saturation during K Care.


CONCLUSIONS
K Care is safe even for very small neonates and is well tolerated. The stability of the preterm infants receiving K Care documents the need to incorporate it into standards of care.
Messmer
P R
PR
Rodriguez
S
S
Adams
J
J
Wells-Gentry
J
J
Washburn
K
K
Zabaleta
I
I
Abreu
S
S
D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D012890:Sleep; D013997:Time Factors; D014110:Touch