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The Effects of a Continuous Olfactory Stimulation Using Breast Milk (COSB) on Behavioral State and Physiological

Young Ah Park1, Yeo Jin Im1

  • 1College of Nursing Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Journal of Pediatric Nursing
|March 10, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Continuous olfactory stimulation with breast milk (COSB) significantly stabilized heart rates and improved behavioral states in premature infants. This safe intervention offers a valuable developmental care plan for high-risk infants in the NICU.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Developmental pediatrics
  • Sensory stimulation

Background:

  • Premature infants often experience physiological and behavioral instability in the NICU.
  • Developmental care strategies are crucial for improving outcomes in high-risk neonates.
  • Olfactory stimulation is an emerging area of interest in neonatal care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of continuous olfactory stimulation with breast milk (COSB) on the behavioral and physiological states of Korean premature infants.
  • To determine if COSB can enhance the stabilization of heart rate and behavioral patterns.
  • To assess the feasibility of COSB as a developmental care intervention in the NICU.

Main Methods:

  • A non-equivalent control group pre- and post-test design was used with 30 premature infants.
  • Sterile gauzes with breast milk were placed near infants' nostrils 8 times daily for 3 days.
  • Behavioral state, heart rate, and oxygen saturation were measured five times per infant.

Main Results:

  • The experimental group showed significantly reduced heart rate variations (p = .039).
  • Heart rates were more stable in the COSB group compared to the control group (p > .089).
  • COSB demonstrated positive effects on premature infants' behavioral states at certain time points.

Conclusions:

  • COSB is a beneficial intervention for stabilizing behavioral states and significantly stabilizing heart rates in high-risk infants.
  • COSB can be integrated into NICU developmental care plans to improve the physiological and behavioral condition of premature infants.
  • Nurses can utilize COSB as a safe and effective tool for enhancing neonatal care.
Abstract

Keywords:
Child behaviorHeart rateHuman milkOlfactory perceptionPremature infant

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