NCT06209060

Hammock Position and Nesting in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

The Effect of Hammock Position and Nesting on the Comfort Level and Physiological Parameters of Preterm Babies

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 72 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Maltepe University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 32 Weeks – 37 Weeks
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This research aims to determine the effect of hammock position and nesting practices on the comfort level and physiological parameters of preterm babies.

Detailed description

The study will be conducted with the randomized controlled experimental method. The sample size determined in the sample width analysis was determined as 72 babies (hammock position group: 36 babies; nesting group: 36 babies) with an effect size of 0.6, alpha error probability of 0.05, and a power value of 0.80. A sample of 72 preterm neonates will be randomly assigned into two equal groups. Neonates in the hammock position group will be placed in a hammock created by the researchers inside the incubator. Neonates in the nesting group will be placed in a nest created by the researchers within the incubator. Babies will be fed and their diapers changed before being positioned. These positions will be applied to babies for one hour every day for 5 consecutive days. Before positioning, the pulse oximeter device will be attached to the baby's foot, and its physiological parameters will be evaluated by remaining on the baby's foot for the duration of the positioning. During the one-hour position, no invasive procedures or diaper changes will be performed on the babies, the baby will not be touched, only observation will be made. The babies' comfort levels will be evaluated with the 'Newborn Comfort Behavior Scale' 5 minutes before positioning, at the 2nd, 20th, 40th, 60th minutes of positioning and 5 minutes after positioning, and their physiological parameters will be measured. The babies' comfort level will be evaluated independently by two observers.

Conditions

• Behavior, Nesting
• Behavior, Child

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Hammock Position	Researchers will make a hammock by using a soft rectangular cotton cloth with ropes that pass through the circular openings of the incubator and are tied on the upper part of it. Babies will be placed in this hammock in a supine position with their extremities in the midline. The spine of the preterm neonate will support while arms and knees are flexed. Additionally, a small rectangular roller will be placed between the cervical and scapular region of the newborn in the hammock position to ensure that no hyperflexion or hyperextension position of the head occurs, which may impair respiratory function.
BEHAVIORAL	Nesting	In the nesting group, a nest will be made using rolls prepared with materials such as towels and blankets, and the baby will be placed in this nest. The baby's head and body will be positioned on the same axis, its extremities will be positioned in the midline, and its hands will be positioned close to its face.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-11-01
• Primary completion: 2026-08-15
• Completion: 2026-08-30
• First posted: 2024-01-17
• Last updated: 2026-04-14

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)