Effect of Yakson Therapy on Weight Gain in Premature Infants and Role Confidence and Satisfaction for Mothers

약손요법이 미숙아의 체중 증가와 미숙아 어머니 역할수행에 대한 자신감 및 만족도에 미치는 효과

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects on weight of premature infants when Yakson therapy was conducted by mothers and also to measure role confidence and role satisfaction of the mothers. Method: A non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design was used. The data were collected from January to July, 2005. Thirty preform infants and mothers were assigned to either an experimental (15) or a control group (15). Yakson therapy consists of three phases: laying on of hands, caressing by hands, and laying on of hands again, each phase taking 5 minutes. Yakson therapy was provided to infants in the experimental group for 15-minutes 5 times a day far 15 days. Infant weight, mothers' role confidence and satisfaction with role were measured for both groups. Results: Compared to the control group, weight gain of infants in the experimental group (t=2.05, p=.049) was significantly increased after 15 days. The experimental group also had significantly higher scores in mothers'.ole confidence (t=1.98, p=.038). Conclusion: The results suggest that Yakson therapy can be used to increase weight gain in preform infants and improve the role confidence of mothers.