Effect of nesting versus non nesting on sleep pattern and physiological parameters among premature infants

Abstract

Motivation: Optimal sleep is essential to normal growth and development and aids recovery. Studies show that sleep has a role in the development and function of the brain. Sleep deprivation may have a negative impact on the health and development of the newborn and lowers the threshold for pain which has been proved in adult sleep deprivation studies. Preterm infants require more than 18 hours sleep per day for normal growth and development. Over 2 million children today have some type of sleep disorder ((National Institute of Lung and Heart Disease, 2015). As there are only a few studies conducted on the effect of nesting on the sleeping pattern and physiological parameters and also nurses in NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) are not giving much significance to sleeping pattern of premature infants. So the investigator felt the need to conduct a study on this area of interest. Design and methods: This crossover clinical trial was performed at a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). 21 preterm infants who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled. They were randomly assigned to two groups of nest and routine procedure. Physiological parameters such as Oxygen saturation, body temperature, heart rate and respiration were evaluated by using leads and probes connected to centralized monitor during each stage of sleep between inter epoch two feed were recorded and analyzed by using a paired t-test.

Results: There was an improvement in physiological parameters among preterm infants with nesting compared to routine care, which was tested by paired t-test. With regard to oxygen saturation, there was a significant increase in active sleep (p<0.05) and quiet sleep (p<0.005), heart rate was significantly decreased and maintained stable during quiet sleep (p<0.05) respiratory rate was decreased and maintained stable but statistically not significant (p>0.05) in all stages of sleep, There was increase in mean body temperature value in all stages of sleep, statistical significance exhibited only in indeterminate sleep (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Use of nesting aids in comfort and helps to maintain stable physiological parameters. Thus using nesting for a preterm infant is recommended to facilitate stability of physiological parameters in NICU.