The Effect of Positions on Sleep-Wake Status of Preterm Babies: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Bacground: This review, was carried out to examine the effects of different positions on sleep-wake status in preterm infants in a randomized controlled and quasi-experimental design nursing study results.

Materials and Methods: This study is a systematic review. For this purpose, 5 databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Science Direct and Cochrane were scanned by matching with the keywords “preterm, sleep, position, infant, sleep-wakefulness”. All related English studies published in the literature between 1999-2022 were included in the evaluation.

Results: In this study, a total of 1033 records were reached as a result of scanning the databases. A total of 11 (N=272) publications that met the inclusion criteria were included in the study and evaluated in terms of results. It has been determined that positions are generally given during invasive procedures, after care and feedings, in order to improve the sleep of preterm infants. Positions given include hammock, nesting, facilitated tucking, right or left lateral, supine and prone positions.

Conclusions: It has been determined that the sleep-wake status of preterm infants is affected by positions. It has been determined that prone, hammock and facilitated tucking positions can be given to improve the sleep-wake status of preterm infants receiving care in neonatal intensive care units.