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The effect of therapeutic touch on colic symptoms in infantile colic infants: A randomised controlled study
Selda Ateş Beşirik1, Emine Geçkil2
1Department of Nursing, Department of Pediatric Nursing, Bucak School of Health, Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Burdur, Turkey.
Insights
Therapeutic touch (TT) significantly reduced infantile colic symptoms, decreasing crying time and improving sleep duration in infants. This non-pharmacological intervention is recommended for managing colic.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Infant Health
Background:
- Infantile colic affects a significant number of infants, causing distress to both infants and parents.
- Current management strategies for infantile colic have varying degrees of effectiveness.
- Non-pharmacological interventions are sought to provide safe and effective relief for colic symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic touch (TT) in alleviating symptoms of infantile colic.
- To assess the impact of TT on infant crying time and sleep duration.
- To determine if TT offers a beneficial complementary approach to standard colic care.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial was conducted with infants aged 4-12 weeks diagnosed with infantile colic.
- Infants were assigned to either an intervention group receiving TT plus usual care or a control group receiving usual care only.
- Data on colic symptoms (Infant Colic Scale), crying time, and sleep time were collected over a two-week follow-up period.
Main Results:
- The study included 64 infants (32 in each group).
- Statistically significant improvements were observed in the TT group compared to the control group for Infant Colic Scale scores, reduced crying time, and increased sleep time.
- A high effect size was noted for the group-by-time interaction, indicating a substantial impact of TT.
Conclusions:
- Therapeutic touch is an effective intervention for reducing symptoms, decreasing crying, and increasing sleep in infants with colic.
- TT presents a safe and recommended non-pharmacological option for managing infantile colic.
- Further research may explore long-term effects and optimal TT protocols for infant colic.
Aim:
This study aimed to examine the effects of therapeutic touch (TT) on infantile colic symptoms (Infant Colic Scale (ICS) score, crying time and sleep time).
Methods:
This randomised controlled trial included infants aged 4-12 weeks diagnosed with infantile colic in a pediatric unit of a hospital. Infants were assigned to intervention or control groups using a stratified randomisation method. The intervention group received TT sessions six times, 3 days a week, in addition to usual care for 2 weeks. The control group received the usual care. Data were collected using Mother-Infant Information Form, ICS, Crying and Sleep Time Follow-Up Forms. The infants were followed up for two weeks.
Results:
A total of 64 infants who met the criteria were included in the study, including intervention (n = 32) and control (n = 32) groups. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups (intervention and control) in terms of ICS scores (U = 4.5; P < 0.001; d = 3.252; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.505-3.999), crying time (F = 57.097; ŋp 2 = 0.461; P < 0.001) and sleep time (F = 17.884; ŋp 2 = 0.211; P < 0.001). When the intervention group was compared with the control group at all time points, the size of the effect (group × time interaction) was found to be high.
Conclusions:
TT effectively relieved symptoms, decreased crying time and increased sleep time in infants with infantile colic. TT is recommended to relieve colic in infants.
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