Abstract
Introduction: Preterm infants are unable to regulate their body temperature and there are insufficient research evidences on different kinds of covers for hospitalized preterm infants; therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effects of plastic and blanket covers on the body temperature of preterm infants under radiant warmer. Methods: This randomized cross-over clinical trial was carried out upon 80 infants with the gestational age of 28-30 weeks and birth weight of 800- 1250 gr who were in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on the second day of their hospitalization. The study lasted for two days. In group 1, the plastic cover was used during the first day of the study while the blankets were used during the second day. Infants’ heads were kept out of the cover and coated with a hat. In group 2, the plastic cover was used during the first day of the study while the blanket was used during second day. Digital thermometer was used to measure infants’ axillary temperature. The data was analyzed using SPSS ver 13 and MiniTab software. Descriptive statistics, (Mean (SE), 95%CI) and inferential statistics (Repeated measurement and ANCOVA tests) were used. Results: The mean body temperature of the infants in the group covered with the plastic was calculated to be higher and the warmer was set on low temperature. Conclusion: Using plastic cover during the first few days of hospitalization in NICU resulted in regulation of preterm infants’ body temperature.
Highlights
Preterm infants are unable to regulate their body temperature and there are insufficient research evidences on different kinds of covers for hospitalized preterm infants; the present study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effects of plastic and blanket covers on the body temperature of preterm infants under radiant warmer
Effect of plastic cover and blanket on body temperature therapy method, recognition, environmental temperature and moist had no significant differences across groups
The results of this study clearly showed that the body temperature of 28-30 weeks gestation infants hospitalized in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), for whom plastic cover was used, was within normal limits compared to those for whom the plush blanket was used
Summary
Preterm infants are unable to regulate their body temperature and there are insufficient research evidences on different kinds of covers for hospitalized preterm infants; the present study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effects of plastic and blanket covers on the body temperature of preterm infants under radiant warmer. In group 2, the plastic cover was used during the first day of the study while the blanket was used during second day. Results: The mean body temperature of the infants in the group covered with the plastic was calculated to be higher and the warmer was set on low temperature. Conclusion: Using plastic cover during the first few days of hospitalization in NICU resulted in regulation of preterm infants’ body temperature. The increased mortality rate has been reported to be associated with the reduction of body temperature.[6,7] Infants’ hypothermia in NICU increases the probability of their mortality up to 64%(7) while keeping the infants warm leads to 25% mortality reduction in very low birth weight infants.[8]
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