Changes in physiological and behavioral parameters of preterm infants undergoing body hygiene: a systematic review

Las variaciones de los parámetros fisiológicos y de comportamiento de los recién nacidos pretérminos sometidos a baño de inmersión: una revisión sistemática

Objective

To verify the effect of bathing on the body temperature of preterm infants (PTI).

Method

Systematic review conducted in the following bibliographic electronic sources: Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde/Lilacs (BVS), Cumulated Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science, using a combination of search terms, keywords and free terms. The review question was adjusted to the PICO acronym (Patient/population, Intervention, Control/comparative intervention, Outcome). The selected publications were evaluated according to levels of evidence and grades of recommendation for efficacy/effectiveness studies, as established by the Joanna Briggs Institute.

Results

Eight hundred and twenty four (824) publications were identified and four studies met the inclusion criteria, of which three analyzed the effect of sponge baths and the effect of immersion baths.

Conclusion

Sponge baths showed a statistically significant drop in body temperature, while in immersion baths the body temperature remained stable, although they studied late preterm infants.

Baths; Premature; Body temperature; Neonatal nursing; Review