Massage, Tub Bathing, and Sponge Bathing Effects on Neonatal Bilirubin and Comfort (NEO-BATH)

Bursa Uludag University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Newborn Care Phototherapy; Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia

Treatments: Other: Tub Bathing; Other: neonatal massage; Other: sponge bath

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07084987

RUKİYEOZTURK-2025

2021-42 (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This randomized controlled trial evaluates the effects of massage, tub bathing, and sponge bathing on bilirubin levels, skin integrity, neonatal comfort, and physiological parameters in term newborns undergoing phototherapy

Full description

Term newborns undergoing phototherapy in the neonatal intensive care unit will be randomized into four groups: massage, sponge bath, tub bath, and control. Pre-intervention assessments include vital signs, skin moisture, bilirubin levels, the Neonatal Comfort Behavior Scale, and the Skin Condition Assessment Scale. Post-intervention assessments are conducted at multiple time points. The study investigates whether massage and bathing interventions can improve comfort, maintain skin integrity, and reduce bilirubin levels more effectively than standard care.

Enrollment: 120 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 1 to 28 days old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion newborns (>37 weeks gestation)

• Receiving phototherapy
• Stable vital signs
• Parental consent

Exclusion criteria

• Congenital anomalies
• Severe infections or sepsis
• Parental refusal

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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120 participants in 4 patient groups

massage group

Experimental group

Description:

Newborns receive standardized neonatal massages before phototherapy.

Treatment:

Other: neonatal massage

Tub Bath Group

Experimental group

Description:

Newborns receive a warm water tub bath prior to phototherapy.

Treatment:

Other: Tub Bathing

Sponge Bath Group

Experimental group

Description:

Newborns receive a sponge (wipe) bath before phototherapy.

Treatment:

Other: sponge bath

Control Group

No Intervention group