• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.84-88
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of music therapy as auditory stimulus on the heart rate and behavioral state of premature infants. Method: The study design was a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Forty premature infants who were admitted at NICU were selected and assigned to two groups, experimental and control. Data were collected from April 20 to July 31, 2003 and analysed using Wilcoxon rank sum test and ANCOVA. Infants in experimental group were given music therapy for 20 minutes daily in 7 days at the average level of 56dB. Results: The first hypothesis that 'Infants in the experimental group will be lower in heart rate than those in the control group' was rejected(F= .05, ρ= .816). The 2nd hypothesis that 'Infants in the experimental group will be lower in behavioral state score than those in the control group, was supported(F=7.40, ρ= .010). Conclusion: The music therapy in this study was an effective nursing intervention in decreasing the heart rate and behavioral state score of premature infants.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.355-362
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify effects of Massage therapy on feeding intolerance and physical growth in premature infants. Methods: This study was conducted in the NICU of U university hospital, from June to December 2014. A quasi experimental design was used. A total of 60 premature infants were randomly assigned into two groups of 30 infants each. Infants of control group were given conventional treatment, while infants of experimental group given conventional treatment plus massage therapy. Massage therapy was performed for 15 minutes, 60 min before feeding, 3 times per day for 21 times over 7 days. The number of feedings withheld for feeding intolerance, number of gastric residuals, number of fecal excretions and physical growth variables (weight, height) were measured. Results: After the intervention, number of fecal excretions and weight gain in the experimental group were significantly higher than that of the control group. Also, number of gastric residuals in the experimental group was lower than that of the control group. Conclusion: Massage therapy laid the basis for nursing intervention to promote feeding tolerance and physical growth in premature infants.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 2010

Metabolic acidosis is commonly encountered issues in the management of critically ill neonates and especially of preterm infants during early neonatal days. In extremely premature infants, low glomerular filtration rate and immaturity of renal tubules to produce new bicarbonate causes renal bicarbonate loss. Higher intake of amino acids, relatively greater contribution of protein to the energy metabolism and mineralization process in growing bones are also responsible for higher acid load in premature infant than in adult. Despite widespread use of sodium bicarbonate in the management of severe metabolic acidosis, use of sodium bicarbonate in premature infants should be restricted to a reasonable but unproven exception such as ongoing renal loss. Despite concern about the low pH value (<7.2) which can compromise cellular metabolic function, no treatment guideline has been established regarding the management of metabolic acidosis in premature infants. Appropriately powered randomized controlled trials of base therapy to treat metabolic acidosis in critically ill newborn infants are demanding.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.96-106
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• 2003

Advances in neonatal care system and research have resulted in an increased survival rate among low birth weight infants in the industrialized countries. Recent Korean neonatal mortality and morbidity statistics, and current status of Korean neonatal intensive care facilities were reviewed here for the sake of future improvement and research. Morbidity statistics revealed that perinatal diseases accounted for 80％ of the death of premature infants implying the possibility of its reduction by the vigorous prenatal care service in future.On the basis of extensive studies of nutritional support and growth rate of premature infants, commercial formulas for premature infants have been developed and various aspects of feeding techniques are standardized. However, problem of growth deficit of premature infants remains unsolved as medical problem. NICU specialists are challenged with the tasks of prenatal education or provision of care that minimizes the neurodevelopmental problems seen in preterm infants, various short-term outcome researches have been reported and those are reviewed here to promote research interest in the field of neonatal nursing. Systemic long-term outcome studies are also awaited in Korea for the formulation of welfare policy in future. Nursing science has to embrace all these interdisciplinary studies as their own research field in collaboration with neonatologist, nutritionist, rehabilitation therapist, social workers and teachers.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.24-33
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT)-based emotional regulation program for mothers of premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: The study utilized a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Seventeen mothers were recruited for the experimental group and 21 mothers for the control group. Data were collected from July 9, 2018, to Oct 12, 2018 from mothers of premature infants in the NICU regarding parental stress, state anxiety, depression, and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation. The experimental group received eight sessions of the REBT-based emotional regulation program for 3~4 weeks, and the control group only received standard nursing care. Results: Significant differences were found between the two groups in maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation (Z=-3.88, p<.001), stress (Z=-2.76, p=.006), state anxiety (Z=-3.72, p<.001), and postpartum depression(Z=-2.62, p=.009) after the intervention in the experimental group. Conclusion: The REBT-based emotional regulation program for mothers of premature infants was effective for reducing maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation, stress, anxiety, and postpartum depression. Therefore, it may be necessary to provide an REBT-based emotional regulation program for mothers of premature infants in the NICU in clinical practice.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.781-789
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• 2007

Purpose: The study was conducted to investigate the skin hydration level in various body sites and identify the influencing factors in neonates. Methods: An exploratory comparison study was designed to measure the stratum corneum hydration, using a National DM-R2 on the forehead, abdomen, buttocks, and the back of the hands and feet of 198 neonates including 92 premature infants. Results: The results showed 32.7%-36.5% of stratum corneum hydration for all sites. Premature infants revealed a higher hydration level on the peripheral sites (dorsal hand and feet) than those of the full-term infants, possibly resulting from therapeutic regimens including an incubator or radiant warmer. Infants in an incubator showed a higher hydration level than those in radiant warmers, suggesting more attention to fluid management for infants in the open environment. In addition, all stratum corneum hydration measurements except one, from the forehead, showed a positive correlation with postnatal age in full-term infants while showing no relation to any measurements in premature infants. Conclusion: The study demonstrated the very low skin hydration levels in hospitalized neonates, particularly in premature neonates with more susceptible skin hydration instability despite therapeutic interventions for fluid balance. More vigilant fluid management is imperative in neonates, particularly those in the open environment.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.239-246
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• 2023

Germinal matrix and intraventricular hemorrhage (GM-IVH) are the major causes of intracranial hemorrhage in premature infants. Cranial ultrasound (cUS) is the imaging modality of choice for diagnosing and classifying GM-IVH. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), usually performed at term-equivalent age, is more sensitive than cUS in identifying hemorrhage in the brain. Post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilatation is a significant complication of GM-IVH and correlates with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. In this review, we discuss the various imaging findings of GM-IVH in premature infants, focusing on the role of cUS and MRI.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.85-94
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• 2012

Purpose: Instead of a chaotic non circadian environmental approach, continuing regular day-night rhythm in neonatal nurseries may benefit the development of preterm infants. The purpose of this study was to define the effects of cycled lighting on circadian rhythms of premature infants. Methods: The experimental group included 15 preterm infants, and the control group, 15 premature infants in the NICU of a general hospital in Seoul. All infants were between 32 and 37 weeks' postconceptional age. The experimental group infants were provided with cycled lighting before discharge. The incubator or bassinet cover of the experimental group was off between 7 AM and 7 PM, and was covered between 7 PM and 7 AM. Results: There were significant differences in the NNNS score ($p$=.039), and some significant differences in the sleep-activity pattern between the experimental group and the control group, but distinct differences in sleep-activity patterns between the two groups could not be defined. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that cycled lighting can be helpful in the neurobehavioral development of preterm infants. By modifying the NICU environment to provide a more developmentally supportive milieu, nursing professionals can better meet the infants' physiologic and neurobehavioral needs.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.454-462
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• 2011

Purpose: This paper identified the effects of kangaroo care (KC) on maternal self-esteem and the growth and physiological stability of premature infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit. Methods: The experiment was conducted with an experimental group of 17 infants, and a control group of 17 infants selected by convenience sampling. KC was given to the infants one time a day for 30 minutes after feeding for two weeks. Their weight was measured every morning, and their physiological stability was measured in terms of their body temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and stability of the cardio-respiratory system in premature infants (SCRIP) score, as physiological responses at every 10 minutes during the intervention. Maternal self-esteem was assessed by a maternal self-report inventory. Results: The experimental group showed significant increase in the self-esteem of mothers. Also, KC was effective on physiological stabilization of preterm infants. Conclusion: This study suggests that KC can be provided in clinical settings more widely in Korea as one of the nursing interventions aimed at promoting maternal self-esteem as well as infants' physiological stabilization.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.296-308
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the noise level and frequency experienced by premature infants receiving incubator care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: The participants were 20 premature infants receiving incubator care in the NICU of a university hospital in Daejeon Metropolitan city. The noise level was measured using a professional sound-level meter (ET-958, FLUS, Shenzhen, China) based on a noise classification table developed by the author. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, the t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation coefficients using SPSS for Windows version 22.0. Results: The average noise level experienced by premature infants receiving incubator care in the NICU was 51.25 dB (range: 45.0~81.7 dB). The frequency of noises was highest for factors related to nursing activities (40.3%), followed by human factors (29.1%), machine alarm sounds (20.1%), incubator operation (6.6%), and internal environmental factors (3.9%). Conclusion: According to the above results, the noise level experienced by premature infants receiving incubator care in the NICU exceeded the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an interventional program to reduce noise in the NICU, and to conduct follow-up studies to verify its effectiveness.