Author/Authors :
Arshadi Bostanabad Mohammad نويسنده Department of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz , Asadollahi Maliheh نويسنده Department of Pediatrics Nursing, Nursing & Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz , Mirnia Kayvan نويسنده Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz
University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran , Hamid Razzaghi Mir نويسنده Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of
Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Abstract :
Background Neonatal period is one of the most important critical
phases of human life. Intensive care unit has a stressful environment
for the infant in which the patient will be under the pressure of
factors such as noise, nursing intervention and harsh light; the most
important factor in this regard being separation from parents.
Objectives This study aimed to investigate the effect of skin-to-skin
care by fathers on salivary cortisol of his infant. Methods This study
was a randomized clinical trial on 45 premature infants paired by their
fathers at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Tabriz Alzahra
teaching hospital conducted during November 2015. The control group
received standard care and the intervention group had 45 minutes of skin
to skin care. Saliva samples were collected from infants before, during,
and after this intervention to measure the cortisol level. The SPSS 13
statistical software was used to analyze the data with the significance
level of P < 0.05. Results Salivary cortisol in babies in the
control group had a mean value of 66.36 (SD = 71.22) and intervention
group a mean value of 59.56 (SD = 59.20) (P = 0.56). Conclusions Both
groups showed decreasing cortisol levels during the study, the reduction
in the skin-to-skin care group was more than the control group, but with
no significant difference. Thus, making it possible for fathers to take
care of their infants in an effective, helpful and secure way.
