The effect of the bath tub and the sponge bath on the physiological variables of the newborn and comfort in preterm infants

Objective: The purpose of the study is to examine the effect of the bath tub and the sponge bath on the physiological variables of the newborn (oxygen saturation, heart rate, body temperature, respiration rate) and comfort in preterm infants. Method: The study was conducted randomly on experimental controlled type. The study was conducted between November 2015 and November 2016 with premature newborns (n = 120) who received treatment and care in the neonatal intensive care unit and met selection criteria. Newborns in the first attempt group (n = 60) were given tub bathing, and the second attempt group was sponge bathing method (n = 60). Physiological variables and comfort were assessed 10 minutes before the procedure for premature newborns in both groups. Ten minutes after the procedure, the comfort of the newborns was assessed by the primary and secondary investigator. After 15 and 30 minutes, the physiological variables were reevaluated. In the survey, written consent was obtained from the ethics committee, institutions and families. The obtained data were analyzed by means of percentage distributions, mean, variance analysis in repeated measures, bonferroni analysis as a further analysis and t test in dependent groups. Results: The tub bath method was found to significantly reduce the heart rate of the newborn at a significantly higher level than the sponge bath method (p <0.05). It was determined that both methods reduced the number of newborns breathing and there was no difference between the bathing methods (p> 0.05). Both bathing methods increased the oxygen saturation of the newborn and there was no difference between bathing methods (p> 0.05). It was determined that premature newborns who applied tub bathing method had significantly higher body temperature than those who sponge bathing method (p <0.05). The tub bathing was found that the comfort of newborns applied was significantly higher than those of the sponge baths (p <0.05). Conclusion: Newborn intensive care units can be applied safely to the newborns for 32-37 weeks preterm bath tub. Key words: Newborn, premature, bath, comfort, nurse