The physiological and behavioral effects of a gentle human touch nursing intervention on preterm infants

This study examined the physiological and behavioral effects of a gentle human touch nursing intervention on medically-fragile, preterm infants (27 to 32 weeks gestational age) through the lens of the Roy Adaptation Model of nursing. Infants were assigned randomly to either a non-touch control group (N=10), or an experimental touch group (N =10). Infants in the experimental group received 20 minutes of gentle human touch for 10 days from 7 through 16 days of life. The touch intervention was administered by a trained individual (a Registered Nurse with Neonatal Intensive Care experience). The principal investigator directly observed the infants and coded baseline and post-touch data (on day 6 and day 17) for both groups and collected all data before, during, and after the touch interventions for infants in the experimental group.

Comparisons (1-tests) of group differences on day 17 of the study revealed significantly less time spent in active sleep, and some evidence of decreased motor activity, by infants in the experimental group. Analysis of variance for a two within­ subjects repeated-measures design for infants in the experimental group showed no significant differences before, during, or after touch for either, heart rate or oxygen saturation levels. There were highly significant differences from phase to phase for five behavioral variables: motor activity, no movement, behavioral distress cues, quiet sleep state and drowsy sleep state. Post hoc comparisons (Fisher's LSD) revealed: decreased motor activity during touch as compared to before and after touch; and less movement, decreased behavioral distress cues, more quiet sleep, and less drowsiness during and after touch than before the touch intervention.

In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that the immediate and short­ term effects of a gentle human touch nursing intervention were not adversive or stressful to preterm infants of 27 to 32 weeks gestational age. In fact, the findings document the positive, beneficial effects of a gentle human touch nursing intervention on preterm infants and indicate this alternative type of touching is appropriate for these infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.