Effect of a Bathing Care Package on Comfort and Skin Moisture in Preterm Infants in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Summary

This completed study evaluated the effects of a bathing care package on the comfort level and skin hydration of preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Preterm infants, born before 37 weeks of gestation, often experience skin dryness and discomfort due to their immature skin barrier.

The bathing care package involved a gentle bathing procedure using warm water at a specific temperature, performed in a basin with a wrapping technique. This procedure was carried out under controlled room temperature and humidity conditions to maximize infant comfort. Comfort-enhancing techniques were also applied during and after the bath.

Preterm infants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group receiving the bathing care package or the control group receiving the standard bathing care routinely practiced in the NICU.

Data collected throughout the study demonstrated that the bathing care package helped maintain skin hydration and preserve comfort levels better than the standard care.

The findings contribute to improving neonatal nursing protocols aimed at enhancing the well-being of preterm infants.

All procedures were conducted with informed consent from parents or legal guardians and approved by the institutional ethics committee.

Conditions

• Preterm Birth
• Skin Hydration in Preterm Infants
• Comfort in Neonates
• Bathing Care Package
• Neonatal Nursing Care

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

bathing care package

Participants receive a bathing care package that includes a swaddled immersion bath. Room temperature is maintained at 26-27°C with 40-60% humidity. Bath water temperature is controlled at 37-38°C. The infant is swaddled and immersed in water up to the shoulders while the head remains above water. The bath lasts no longer than 5 minutes. After bathing, the infant is gently dried without rubbing, wrapped in a towel, and placed in a pre-warmed incubator (31-34°C) for 10 minutes.

BEHAVIORAL

routine bath

Participants receive routine bathing care according to NICU standards. This includes hand hygiene before the procedure, preparing necessary materials, placing the infant in a mesh sling in the bath, washing the body from clean to dirty areas with soft sponges and hospital-provided cleansing agents. The bath lasts up to 10 minutes. After bathing, the infant is quickly dried without rubbing and then diapered.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kiymet Aygün

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Kıymet Aygün, MSc · Tarsus University

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

32 Weeks

Max Age

37 Weeks

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-11-15

Primary Completion

2025-05-04

Completion

2025-05-23

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations