Preterm infant thermal responses to caregiving differ by incubator control mode.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the influence of caregiving on preterm infant and incubator temperature and to investigate incubator control mode in thermal responses to caregiving.


METHODS
The intensive within-subject design involved continuous recording of infant and incubator temperature and videotaping throughout a 24-hour period in 40 hospitalized preterm infants. Temperature at care onset was compared with care offset, and 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes following care offset using ANOVA-RM.


RESULTS
Following caregiving, infant and incubator temperature differed significantly over time by incubator control mode. In air servo-control, infant temperature tended to decrease after caregiving, while in skin servo-control infant temperature remained relatively stable. With caregiving, incubator temperature remained consistent in air servo-control and increased in skin servo-control.


CONCLUSIONS
The temperature effects of caregiving should be considered relative to maintenance of thermoneutrality and unintentional thermal stimulation.
Thomas
Karen A
KA
Department of Family and Child Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7262, USA.
D001831:Body Temperature; D017028:Caregivers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007186:Incubators, Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male