İnvestigation of the effectof massage on vital signs and growth parameters in premature infants

İnvestigation Of The Effectof Massage On Vital Signs And Growth Parameters In Premature Infants Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of massage on vital signs and growth parameters in premature infants. Methods: The sample group consisted of 33 premature infants who hospitalized in the NICU between August 2018 and May 2019 (massage group: 17; control group: 16). Infants in the massage group were given infant massage for 10-15 minutes twice a day for 5 days. Daily body weight of babies in both groups were measured and recorded for 5 days. Head circumference and height were measured and recorded at the beginning and end of the study. Vital signs (SPO2, heart rate, respiration rate) of the babies in the massage group were recorded 3 times massage before, 1. minutes and 10. minutes after the massage. Length of hospital stay of infants in both groups were recorded. Number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi-square tests, Fisher exact test, t test in independent groups, t test in dependent groups, Wilcoxon signed ranks test, Mann Whitney U test were used to evaluate the data.Significance level was accepted p <.05. Results: Body weight increase of the babies in the massage group was found to be significantly higher than the babies in the control group (p <.05). Heart rate after massage in babies in the massage group was found significantly higher on 1st day; 2nd day; 3rd day; 4th day evening and 5th day evening (p <.05). SPO2 values after the massage of the babies in the massage group were significantly higher on the other days except 1st morning (p <.05).Respiratory rate after the massage of the babies in the massage group was significantly higher on all days between 1-5 days (p <.05). There was no significant difference in the length, head circumference increase andlength of hospital stay between the massage and control group babies (p> 05). Conclusion:Infant massage is an effective method to increase the body weight of premature babies. Nursing staff in the NICU can use baby massage to promote the growth and development of premature babies. Keywords; baby massage, vital signs, growth parameter