title: Effects of infant massage on jaundiced neonates undergoing phototherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infant massage is a natural way for caregivers to improve health, sleep patterns, and reduce colic. We aimed to investigate the effects of infant massage on neonates with jaundice who are also receiving phototherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Full-term neonates with jaundice, admitted for phototherapy at a regional teaching hospital, were randomly allocated to either a control group or a massage group. The medical information for each neonate, including total feeding amount, body weight, defecation frequency, and bilirubin level, was collected and compared between two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 56 patients were enrolled in the study. This included 29 neonates in the control group and 27 in the experimental group. On the third day, the massage group showed significantly higher defecation frequency (p = 0.045) and significantly lower bilirubin levels (p = 0.03) compared with the control group. No significant differences related to feeding amount or body weight were observed between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infant massage could help to reduce bilirubin levels and increase defecation frequency in neonates receiving phototherapy for jaundice.
authors.affiliation: Divison of Pediatric Pulmonology, China Medical University Children's Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. lch227@ms39.hinet.net.|Depatment of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, College of Health Care, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. lch227@ms39.hinet.net.
authors.forename: Chien-Heng
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Early Childhood Development and Education, Chaoyang University of Technology, 168, Jifeng E. Rd., Wufeng District, Taichung, 41349, Taiwan. j9104216@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hsiu-Chuan
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Jen-Ai Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. johnson92144@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Chien-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Early Childhood Development and Education, Chaoyang University of Technology, 168, Jifeng E. Rd., Wufeng District, Taichung, 41349, Taiwan. ceyen@cyut.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chin-En
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Yen
mesh_terms: D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods*; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D001663:Bilirubin