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The Effect of Abdominal Massage on Jaundice and Defecation in Newborn Babies

NCT07388732 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 35

Last updated 2026-02-05

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Hyperbilirubinemia is a common condition in term newborns and is often treated with phototherapy. It is thought that abdominal massage may increase bowel movements, thereby increasing the frequency of defecation and supporting bilirubin excretion.

This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effect of abdominal massage, applied once or twice daily using the Vimala technique, on transcutaneous bilirubin levels and defecation frequency in hyperbilirubinemia-affected term newborns receiving phototherapy in the neonatal intensive care unit.

The study was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit of a university hospital between February 29, 2020, and August 17, 2023. A total of 35 newborns meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into three groups. Group Massage-1 received 10 minutes of abdominal massage once daily before feeding for three days (n=12). Group Massage-2 received massage twice daily for the same duration (n=10). The control group received routine care (n=13).

Conditions

  • Hyper Bilirubinemia
  • Phototherapy
  • Jaundice, Neonatal

Interventions

OTHER

Massage once a day for 3 days.

The Vimala Massage Application, before massaging, hands were washed and lubricated. The massage began with a patting motion on the newborn's abdomen, followed by clockwise circular movements and semicircles. The massage was then performed in the shapes of an I, inverted L, and U along the abdomen. Finally, a walking movement was performed with the fingertips from the right to the left side of the abdomen. Each movement was repeated six times.

OTHER

Massage twice a day for 3 days.

The Vimala Massage Application, before massaging, hands were washed and lubricated. The massage began with a patting motion on the newborn's abdomen, followed by clockwise circular movements and semicircles. The massage was then performed in the shapes of an I, inverted L, and U along the abdomen. Finally, a walking movement was performed with the fingertips from the right to the left side of the abdomen. Each movement was repeated six times.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Kutahya Health Sciences University

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
2 Days
Max Age
10 Days
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2020-02-29
Primary Completion
2023-08-17
Completion
2025-01-14

Countries

  • Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07388732 on ClinicalTrials.gov