Kangaroo Care and its Effects on Vital Signs in Preterm Infants
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Kangaroo Care and its Effects on Vital Signs in Preterm Infants requiring respiratory support
IRAS ID
152471
Contact name
Emma Gould
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Birmingham City University, Faculty of Health
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 28 days
Research summary
This study will aim to monitor the effects of kangaroo care (KC) in premature infants receiving respiratory support by measuring their vital signs.
Kangaroo Care (KC) is the practice whereby a parent places their infant, who is in just a nappy, directly onto their chest covered with a blanket. The benefits of KC to premature infants are known to neonatal nurses from their daily practice and are also well documented in the literature. It can improve sleep, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature stability, breast feeding, can reduce pain responses in the infant and on the whole is said to improve attachment (Jefferies, 2012). Mothers who carryout KC are less stressed compared to mothers who do not take part in KC (Nyqvist et al, 2010).
Years of personal practical experience of undertaking KC in this group of infants who require respiratory support suggests that it brings some benefit with minimal risks. However, there is little documented research into the practice of KC in infants requiring respiratory support and variations in practice. Therefore, it is important to study this area in more detail and explore whether the benefits of KC in well infants are also seen in infants receiving respiratory support in order to give more factual results.
The neonatal intensive care/High dependency unit will be the place of study which is a very technical environment for both parents and their preterm infants. Preterm infants experience many unpleasant procedures during their stay and spending peaceful quiet time in the arms of their parents gives them a brief but welcome respite.
The proposed study will be quantitative research using an interrupted time series design to monitor the infants vital signs before, during and after kangaroo care. This will measure responses to KC informing practice. This is part of an educational MSc and is funded.
REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/SC/1306
Date of REC Opinion
29 Sep 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion