The biobehavioral effects of gentle human touch on preterm infants.
This study examined the physiological and behavioral effects of a gentle human touch nursing intervention on medically fragile preterm infants (27 to 32 weeks gestational age). The Roy adaptation model of nursing was the framework for the study. The results of this study suggest that the immediate and short-term effects of a gentle human touch nursing intervention were not aversive or stressful to preterm infants of 27 to 32 weeks gestational age; furthermore, the findings document several positive, beneficial behavioral effects of the intervention on preterm infants and indicate this type of touching may be appropriate for infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Modrcin-Talbott
Mary Anne
MA
Department of Nursing, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tennessee, USA.
Harrison
Lynda Law
LL
Groer
Maureen W
MW
Younger
Mary Sue
MS
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009043:Motor Activity; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D002666:Psychology, Child; D013997:Time Factors; D014110:Touch