Preterm Infants
Conditions
Keywords
Premature Infants, Physiotherapy, Infant Massage
Brief summary
This study investigates the effects of a single-session physiotherapy intervention compared to massage in premature infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit. Premature babies are vulnerable to stress, pain, and sleep disturbances due to medical procedures and the intensive care environment. The study aims to evaluate whether physiotherapy or massage can reduce stress and pain, improve sleep, bilirubin levels, and cerebral oxygenation. Infants will be randomly assigned to three groups: control (routine care), massage, and physiotherapy (Moyer-Mileur protocol). The results will contribute to developing evidence-based interventions to support the health and development of premature infants
Interventions
BEHAVIORALInfant Massage
A standardized infant massage protocol applied by a physiotherapist, including gentle tactile stimulation to promote growth, relaxation, and neuromuscular development in premature infants.
BEHAVIORALPhysiotherapy (Moyer-Mileur Protocol)
A single-session physiotherapy intervention consisting of gentle range of motion and flexion-extension exercises following the Moyer-Mileur protocol to stimulate musculoskeletal and neuromotor development in premature infants.
Sponsors
Necmettin Erbakan University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Masking description
This is an open-label study. Neither participants, care providers, investigators, nor outcome assessors are blinded to group allocation.
Intervention model description
This study uses a parallel assignment model with three groups. Premature infants are randomly allocated to one of three arms: (1) Control group receiving routine neonatal care, (2) Massage group receiving infant massage, and (3) Physiotherapy group receiving a single-session physiotherapy intervention based on the Moyer-Mileur protocol.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
0 Days to 1 Months
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Preterm infants born between 20 and 37 gestational weeks Apgar score ≥ 4 at the 5th minute after birth Parental consent obtained for participation Infants able to receive oxygen via CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) or nasal prongs during the intervention if necessary
Exclusion criteria
Congenital anomalies or chromosomal abnormalities Chronic medical conditions such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia Intraventricular hemorrhage grade III or IV (IVH) Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) Asphyxia or seizures
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Neonatal Infant Pain Scale(NIPS) | Pre-intervention to 30 minutes post-intervention | Change in Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS, range 0-7; higher scores indicate more pain) before and after the intervention. |
| Change in Number of Night Awakenings (Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire) | Baseline (pre-intervention) and within 24 hours after the intervention | Night awakenings will be assessed using the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ). Parents will record the number of times the infant wakes up during the night within a typical 24-hour period. The data will be collected before and after the intervention to determine whether the procedure reduces the frequency of nighttime awakenings. A decrease in the number of awakenings will be considered as an indicator of improved sleep continuity and quality. |
| Change in Sleep Onset Latency (Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire) | Baseline (pre-intervention) and within 24 hours after the intervention | Sleep onset latency (the time it takes for the infant to fall asleep) will be measured using the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ). Parents will report the average duration (in minutes) from when the infant is put to bed until the infant falls asleep. Comparisons will be made between pre-intervention and post-intervention values. A shorter sleep onset latency will be interpreted as a positive outcome, suggesting that the intervention may help infants fall asleep more quickly. |
| Change in Neonatal Infant Stress Scale (NISS) | Pre-intervention to 30 minutes post-intervention | Change in Neonatal Infant Stress Scale (NISS, range 0-2; higher scores indicate greater stress) before and after the intervention. |
| Change in Total Sleep Duration (Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire) | Baseline (pre-intervention) and within 24 hours after the intervention | Total sleep duration will be assessed using the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ). Parents will be asked to report the infant's sleep pattern, and the total amount of time (in minutes) the infant sleeps during a 24-hour period will be recorded. The comparison will be made between pre-intervention and post-intervention data to evaluate whether the intervention has an effect on the infant's overall sleep time. A longer total sleep duration will be interpreted as an improvement in sleep quality. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Heart Rate | 15 minutes before intervention, 5 minutes during intervention, and 15 minutes after intervention | Heart rate (beats per minute) will be measured to assess physiological changes in premature infants following the intervention. Measurements will be taken at three distinct time points: (1) 15 minutes before the intervention (baseline), (2) during the intervention at the 5th minute, and (3) 15 minutes after the intervention. The purpose of this outcome is to determine whether the intervention has an effect on autonomic stability, as reflected by heart rate variability. A decrease in heart rate or stabilization within the normal neonatal range will be considered a favorable outcome. |
| Change in Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂-peripheral oxygen saturation) | 15 minutes before intervention, 5 minutes during intervention, and 15 minutes after intervention | Oxygen saturation (SpO₂, measured in percentage) will be assessed to evaluate respiratory stability in premature infants during and after the intervention. Measurements will be recorded at three time points: (1) 15 minutes before the intervention (baseline), (2) at the 5th minute during the intervention, and (3) 15 minutes after the intervention. Higher oxygen saturation values (closer to 95-100%) will be considered favorable, indicating improved or maintained oxygenation. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed