The Effect of Massage, Wipe Bathing and Tub Bathing on Physiological Measurements of Late Premature Newborns

The neonatal period covers the postnatal first 28 days. During this period, newborns try to adapt to the extrauterine life after the intrauterine life and stabilize their respiratory and circulatory functions. Therefore, the acquisition of information on newborns' vital signs is crucial in the evaluation of and caregiving for newborns. The increase in evidence-based studies in nursing has led to changes and developments in the caregiving instructions that have hitherto been used in newborn intensive care units. However, the required and effective nursing practices that are considered indispensable in newborn intensive care units may cause various physiological (increase or decrease in heart and respiration rate, temporary decrease in oxygen saturation, hypothermia) and behavioral reactions (crying, uneasiness) Nurses, therefore, should closely monitor newborns' vital signs and make various interventions to keep these signs within normal values, as a primary practice.

The literature includes many studies conducted by nurses that focus on keeping newborns' physiological measurements within normal values. Massage means the stimulation of the soft tissues in the body. Previous studies have indicated that massage has positive effects such as relaxing the muscles, relieving pain, reducing bilirubin values by enabling blood and lymphatic circulation, increasing sleep duration, and strengthening the relationship between mothers and newborns. However, only a limited number of studies exist on the effects of massage on newborns' physiological measurements reported that the tactile stimulus through massages supported premature infants' parasympathetic functions and positively affected the infants' heart rate by reducing neurochemical and stress stimuli. Furthermore, Dieogo et al. (2008) reported that premature infants' body temperature increased due to the increased blood circulation during massage.

The bathing of newborns plays a highly important role in routine newborn clinical care practices, as well as in the individual, aesthetic, cultural, and hygienic benefits it confers. In neonatal intensive care units (NICU), tub baths, wipe baths, swaddle baths and shower-type bathing are commonly used. In Turkey, however, wipe baths and tub baths are often the most commonly used bathing methods in neonatal intensive care units . Although the literature shows differences among the institutions and countries, in newborn care units, wipe bathing is generally carried out by nurses, and tub bathing is not recommended until the infants' naval cord falls of. Numerous studies have shown that bathing can be performed without harming the newborn. Bryanton et al. (2004) indicated in their study that thermoregulation was ensured for the infants by drying them under a radiant warmer and placing them in an incubator. Mörelus et al. (2006) reported that infants might show physiological reactions, such as increased respiration and heart rate, to any stress. They also found that bathing positively affected infants' physiological measurements by relaxing them and reducing their stress levels. Studies that compare the effects of traditional wipe and tub bathing on newborns' physiological measurements have shown that tub bathing had more positive effects than wipe bathing. However, no studies have analyzed in the related literature that investigate the effects of massage, wipe bathing and tub bathing on physiological measurements, in the studies also have several inconsistencies, such as a small sample size, the failure to use control groups and a lack of blinding and follow-up. This randomized experimental study aimed to analyze the effect of massage, wipe bathing and tub bathing of late premature newborns on their physiological measurements.

Study design, setting, and population This study was conducted as a randomised controlled study between January and December 2018 in the NICU of a university hospital in Turkey. The NICU employs 30 nurses who provide newborns with bathing care performed routinely between 2 and 3 pm each afternoon.

In this study, permission to conduct the research was obtained from the hospital and the Inonu University Health Sciences Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Committee. All parents who agreed to participate in the research were informed of its methods and purpose, and each completed an informed consent form.

The study sample included the newborns who a) were born at 34 weeks' gestation and over b) were receiving routine care and who were stable (temperature >36.5 °C, SpO2> 95%, HR = 120-160 / min) c) had an apgar score of 7 or higher at the first minute after birth; d) were at least 24 hours old and who had no health problems that prevent bathing (e.g., congenital anomaly, surgical intervention, etc.) were included in the research.

The G*Power software package was used to calculate the sample size. The sample consisted of 192 newborns who comprised (d=0.5)effect size and(α=0.050) alpha level and95%confidence level(1-β) according to the power analysis. Each group consisted of 48 patients.

Randomizasyon Newborns meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to one of the 4 groups. Numbers were given to newborns sequentially on entry into the study and the random number stable used to allocate to one of 4 groups.

Physiological measurements Oxygen saturation Heart rate and oxygen saturations of newborns were examined using a pulse oximeter. A separate pulse oximetry probe was used for each baby.

Body temperature Newborns' body temperatures were measured using a non-contact thermometer. Bath water temperature The temperature of the water used for bathing was controlled using a bath thermometer.

Data Collection Tools The data were collected using the "Newborn Follow-up Form."

Newborn Follow-up Form:

This form was prepared by the researcher upon a literature review and included questions on the newborns' height, weight, diagnosis, gender, gestational age, physiological measurements (pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, body temperature), and the delivery method.

PROCEDURE Preparation for applications The newborns' mothers were allowed to observe during the applications (massage, wipe bath and tub bath use). Suitable environmental conditions were provided for all newborns. The massages and wipe bathing were performed first by setting an appropriate temperature and humidity in the tub bathing . The door of the room used for bathing was kept closed, preventing heat loss and convection caused by air circulation. The room temperature and humidity were set to 26-28 °C and 40-60%, respectively. The duration of the applications was a maximum of 5 minutes. Clinical care of newborns (at least half an hour after feeding) and treatment processes were taken into consideration. In addition, the newborns were not touched until the evaluation was completed after the massage and bath.

For the massage application, alcohol-free and paraben-free baby oil with moisturising properties, suitable for newborns' skin type, was used. The temperature of the water used for the sponge bath was set at 37-38 °C, and separate cotton wipes were used for each body region. A folded cloth towel was placed in the tub bath before the bathing began. The water level inside the tub was set to 9-12 cm, deep enough to cover the newborn's shoulders. The temperature of the bath water was controlled using a special water thermometer.

The materials used during the applications were placed in easily accessible places, and nurses wore gloves after washing their hands prior to beginning the activities. All materials were disinfected after each application. The researchers were not involved in clinical follow-up of the infants, and nurses took all physiological measurements, recording them on the Newborn Follow-up Form.

Interventions Control Group The newborns in the control group did not undergo any intervention other than standard clinical practices. All physiological measurements (pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation and body temperature) were performed by nurses and recorded on the Newborn Follow-up Form.

Massage Group Massages were performed starting from the face, focused on the newborns forehead, and then around the eyes and cheeks with gentle touches. Then, newborns' chest area and the upper and lower extremities were massaged. Finally, newborns'were placed prone position and the back was massaged. Nurses recorded newborns' physiological measurements (pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation and body temperature) on the Newborn Follow-up Form.

Wipe Bathing Group In the sponge bathing group, the newborns' eyes, faces (outward from the midline), around the ear and the back of the ear were wiped from the inside out with cotton wipes and dried. Then, the chest area and arms, abdomen and back, legs and feet, respectively, were wiped and dried. Finally, the genital area was cleaned, before diapering the newborn. Nurses recorded newborns' physiological measurements (pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation and body temperature) on the Newborn Follow-up Form.

Tub Bathing Group In the tub bathing group, before being immersed in the tub, the newborns' faces and heads were cleaned outwards from the midline and dried. Then, the neck, chest, arms, back, legs and genital area were soaped, before the full body was rinsed and dried. Finally, umbilical cord care was performed, and the baby was diapered. Nurses recorded the newborns' physiological measurements (pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation and body temperature) on the Newborn Follow-up Form.