Therapeutic touch with preterm infants: composing a treatment

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Care
• Complementary Therapies
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Therapeutic touch (TT) is a complementary therapy known to reduce stress, anxiety, and pain in various populations.
• Limited research exists on TT's effectiveness in preterm infants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the application of TT with preterm infants.
• To describe the TT treatment process for preterm infants.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive and narrative inquiry methods were employed.
• Data were collected through interviews and written narratives from nurses experienced in TT with preterm infants.

Main Results:

• Preterm infants (25-37 weeks postgestational age) showed reduced heart and respiratory rates with TT.
• Infants exhibited enhanced rest, improved sucking-swallowing-breathing coordination, and increased environmental engagement.
• The TT process included unique elements like 'smoothing' and 'containing' during the treatment phase.

Conclusions:

• The described TT process provides preliminary data for its systematic use in preterm infants.
• TT may serve as an adjunct therapy to support physiological and behavioral development in preterm infants.
• Further evaluation of TT is recommended for enhancing preterm infants' well-being and energy field development.