This experimental study was aimed to identify the effects of infant massage on body weight and behavioral state in preterm when nurse provide massage to preterm who are in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The research was experimental study and nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest. Independent variable was massage given by the researcher and dependent variable was infant weight and behavioral state. The data were collected from March to October in 1999. The massaged group was 10 preterm infants and the non-massaged group was made up of 10 preterm infants who were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Y medical center between March and October 1999. The preterm infants in massaged group were massaged at every 4Pm for 15min. The therapy was lasted for 10 days. The body weights of preterm infants was checked 2 Am next morning. The Anderson behavioral state scale was used for the evaluation of the preterm baby´s behaviors. Using SPSS-PC, x^(2)-test, Mann-Whitney test and Kruskal-Wallis test, the data were analyzed. The results are as follows
1. The massaged group gained an average of 66gm over the 10 days compared with non-massaged group, that was not statistically significant. 2. The daily body weight in the massaged group was the highest on the first, ninth and tenth day, that was statistically significant. 3. In the aspect of behavior status, the experimental group showed statistical significance by showing inactive in the state of alert and conversion to a positive state than the control group. In sum, when nurses provide massage to preterm infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, preterm infants tend to gain more body weight than who were not. In the behavior status, there were statistical significance in the frequency of staying inactive in the state alert and conversion to positive state. Futher study on the effects of massage on preterm infants with slight modification of massage hour and duration is recommended. A study with large sample in a variety of settings will be the needed for the following study so that nurses can apply this intervention to preterm infants.
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