Original Article
Journal of Perinatology (2009) 29, 504–507; doi:10.1038/jp.2009.13; published online 26 February 2009
Postural support improves distress and pain during diaper change in preterm infants
The study was registered by no. 03279 in the Institutional Review Board IRB0000921.
- 1Department of Health Science Center, The Federal University of Santa Maria - UFSM, Santa Maria, Brazil
- 2Pediatric and Puericulture Department for the Medical School of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Hospital de Clínicas, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
Correspondence: Dr T Comaru, Department of Health Science Center, The Federal University of Santa Maria - UFSM, Santa Maria, Brazil. E-mail: talithacomaru@hotmail.com
Received 13 July 2008; Revised 21 December 2008; Accepted 13 January 2009; Published online 26 February 2009.
Abstract
Objective:
To determine the effects of a postural support protocol on the physiological and behavioral stability of preterm infants while undergoing a diaper change.
Study Design:
Forty-seven newborns having a birth weight 
2000 g and gestational age 35 weeks were included in this randomized, crossover clinical trial in a Neonatology Intensive Care Unit. The infants were observed as his or her own control and evaluated with and without the use of the proposed intervention, which was positioning the baby in a nest produced with rolled-up towels. During the observations, as control, the care model used by the unit was considered.
Result:
All babies displayed increased distress and pain scores during diaper changes. This was significantly less for babies nested compared with non-nested babies (P<0.0001).
Conclusion:
Diaper change is a distressing procedure for preterm infants. Providing postural support during diaper changes reduces the signs of distress and pain.
Keywords:
development, behavior, handling, stress, neonate
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