The Effect of Creating an Artificial Night on Physiological Changes in Preterm Infants

Introduction Preterm infants are exposed to irregular light for several weeks or months in the Neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU). This lack of maternal entrainment, the exposure to irregular extrauterine lighting and care in the nursery may contribute to the disturbances in body temperature, sleep and physiological changes that are commonly experienced by preterm infants. Materials and Methods This is a randomized clinical trial dual group study, 38 preterm infants (gestational age of 30-34 weeks) due to prematurity hospitalized at NICU of Ghaem Hospital, Iran, were evaluated within 10 days. Infants were divided into two groups of 1200-1700 and 1701-2200g based on the weight and the weight of each group were randomized into artificial night (dark period was from 19 to 7 during incubator was covered with linen cloth & light period was from 7 to 19 removed the cover) and control groups (continuous lighting). Mothers & infants through questionnaires, interviews, observation & document completion, changes in physiologic & weight before entering the study & then physiologic changes twice a day. Data were analyzed using SPSS version16 software. Results The two groups were matched in terms of other variables. Mean gestational age was (31.39+1.39) weeks in both groups, mean weight at study entry in period light of the (1415.8+ 263.46) and (1471.6 + 244.47) was in continuous lighting. The difference in oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, respectively, higher and lower in the intervention group than the control group. Result of the statistical analysis of repeated measures suggests that the difference between the two groups was significant (P < 0.05(. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that the effect of artificial night on physiological stabilization of preterm infants is positive. In order to create a favorable and efficient environment to help better growth, prevent complications of prematurity and impaired circadian rhythms in infants, pay more attention to the care conditions of infants is recommended.