The effects of live singing on the biophysiological functions of preterm infants hospitalized in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Greece: A pilot study

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of live singing on the biophysiological functions, weight gain, head circumference, body length, and duration of hospitalization of preterm infants hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Greece. Forty-one preterm infants 25-33 + 6 days of PCA took part in the study. 14 infants were assigned to the Mother Singing group (MS) in which mothers sang to their infants for 15 minutes every day during the fourteen-day intervention, 13 to the Music Therapist Singing group (MTS) in which a music therapist sang to the infants for 15 minutes every day during the fourteen-day intervention, and 14 in the control group (CG) which did not receive any additional intervention. Infants of both MS and MTS presented statistically significant improvements in heart rate and blood oxygen saturation, compared to CG. No significant differences between groups were found in weight, head circumference, body length, and duration of hospitalization. The use of live singing by mothers or music therapists appears to elicit positive effects on vital biophysiological functions of premature infants. Further investigation of the role of live singing in NICU is warranted.