title: Effect of sleeping position on arousals from sleep in preterm infants.
abstract: To evaluate the frequency of preterm infant positions during sleep, and to investigate the association among positions, arousals, sleep patterns, and time of day.
  
  
  
  This observational study was conducted in a neonatal unit with 10 preterm infants. Polysomnographic and video recordings during 24 hr identified sleep positions, arousals, sleep patterns, and time of day.
  
  
  
  Preterm infants were placed most frequently in the supine position (58.4%), followed by right side (24.9%), left side (15.5%), and prone (1.2%). The longest amount of time spent sleeping, and the most frequent number of arousals, occurred in the supine position, followed by prone, left-side, and right-side positions. After controlling for length of time spent in each position, the number of arousals per hour was the greatest in the supine position (13.562 ± 0.732) and least in the prone position (11.56 ± 4.754; p < .001). There were no significant differences in arousals according to position and sleep pattern (indeterminate, quiet, active sleep) or position and time of day (morning, afternoon, twilight, night).
  
  
  
  Nurses should evaluate the frequency of preterm infant arousals in each position, and use more often those positions that lead to a lower frequency of arousals and better sleep quality.
authors.affiliation: Scientific initiation scholarship FAPESP, Escola Paulista de Enfermagem-Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ingrid Felix
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Modesto
authors.affiliation: Adjunct Professor, Escola Paulista de Enfermagem-Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ariane Ferreira Machado
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Avelar
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Escola Paulista de Enfermagem-Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mavilde da Luz Gonçalves
authors.initials: Mda L
authors.lastname: Pedreira
authors.affiliation: Neurologist Physician and Researcher, Associação Fundo Incentivo à Pesquisa, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pradella-Hallinan
authors.affiliation: Professor, Escola Paulista de Enfermagem-Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marta José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Avena
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Escola Paulista de Enfermagem-Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eliana Moreira
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
mesh_terms: D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D016684:Prone Position / Q000502:physiology*; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D016683:Supine Position / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Sleep; child; infant; nursing care; patient positioning; premature