Contacts experienced by neonates in intensive care environments

A descriptive study which explored the types and frequency of contacts experienced by 16 neonates in intensive care environments is reported. Time-sampling methodology, which involved one observation every 20 seconds over a 2-hour period, was utilized. Observations were made during daylight hours, one subject at a time, for a total of 4 subjects in each of the following time periods: 9-11, 11-1, 1-3, and 3-5. Contacts were divided into two categories: direct and indirect. Direct contact included three subcategories: treatment-oriented procedures, activities of daily living, and comforting touch. Direct contacts constituted 63% of all contacts, half of those being treatment-oriented procedures. Activity-of-daily-living and comforting touch contacts comprised 15% and 16% of contacts respectively. Nurses performed the majority of the contacts.