The effects of touch on the neonate in intensive care

Abstract

In the past, policies and procedures in neonatal intensive care units have discouraged touching neonates except for necessary, often invasive, nursing and medical procedures, citing the disruption of sleep cycles as detrimental to the growth and maturation of the infant. Medical and nursing professionals are currently questioning this prevailing attitude and its effect on the neonate in intensive care. The purpose of this paper is to identify, categorize and synthesize the positive and negative findings related to research on the effects of touch on the neonate. The two questions which guided this study were: What major methods of touch have been identified which nurses can use to provide less stressful, more developmentally supportive care to the neonate in intensive care? What are the advantages and disadvantages of these methods in the care of the neonate? The methodology used was a review of research and related literature published during the last five years and summary of the results. Effects on selected outcome measures were discussed as well as the four major types of touch interventions currently in use. Implications for nursing practice, education and research were identified.

Notes

This item is only available in print in the UCF Libraries. If this is your thesis or dissertation, you can help us make it available online for use by researchers around the world by STARS for more information.

Thesis Completion

2000

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Smith, Frances B.

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Degree Program

Nursing

Subjects

Arts and Sciences -- Dissertations, Academic;Dissertations, Academic -- Arts and Sciences;Neonatal intensive care;Newborn infants -- Care

Format

Print

Identifier

DP0021554

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Document Type

Honors in the Major Thesis

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS