A survey of skin care practices for premature low birth weight infants.
OBJECTIVE
To provide baseline information about current skin care practices in premature low birth weight infants (< 1,000 gm birth weight) in typical NICUs within the U.S.


METHODS
Descriptive survey.


METHODS
104 hospitals with at least 2,500 deliveries per year and at least 20 Level III NICU beds.


METHODS
Environmental conditions, bathing practices and products, adhesive products used to secure IVs and endotracheal tubes, skin protectants used with diaper rash, treatment systems for fragile preterm skin, and treatment systems for denuded skin.


RESULTS
Most units surveyed based their premature low birth weight skin care protocols on a combination of gestational age and birth weight criteria. One-quarter of the units had no skin care protocols at all. Among the units, there was considerable practice variation with respect to common nursing procedures such as bathing, adhesive application, and wound care.
Skin Sciences Institute, Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, USA. bss@seidata.com
K A
KA
Munson
D E
DE
Bare
S B
SB
Hoath
M O
MO
Visscher
D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods*; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States