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Is a Woolen Cap Effective in Maintaining Normothermia in Preterm Infants During Kangaroo Mother Care?

Phase 4
Completed
Conditions
Neonatal Temperature; Kangaroo Mother Care
Interventions
Other: Woolen cap
Registration Number
NCT02645526
Lead Sponsor
University Hospital Padova
Brief Summary

The aim of the present study is to assess the effectiveness and the safety of a woolen cap in maintaining normothermia in low birth weight infants (LBWI) during Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC).

Detailed Description

Background: Neonatal hypothermia is an important challenge associated with morbidity and mortality. Preventing neonatal hypothermia is important in high resource countries, but is of fundamental importance in low resource settings where supportive care is limited.

Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is a low-cost intervention that, whenever possible, is strongly recommended for temperature maintenance. During KMC, the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recommend the use of a cap/hat, but its effect temperature control during KMC remains to be established.

In the hospitals participating to the projects of the non-governmental organization CUAMM, KMC represents a standard of care, but the head of the babies often remains uncovered due to local habits or to the unavailability of a cap.

Objective: The aim of the present study will be to assess the effectiveness and the safety of a woolen cap in maintaining normothermia in low birth weight infants (LBWI) during KMC.

Methods: This is a multicenter (three hospitals), multi country (three countries), prospective, unblinded, randomized clinical trial of KMC treatment with and without a woolen cap in LBWI. After obtaining parental consent, all infants with a birth weight \<2500 g and candidate to KMC will be assigned to KMC with woolen cap or to KMC without cap group in a 1:1 ratio according to a computer-generated randomized sequence. The primary outcome measure will be the temperature in the normal range (36.5-37.5°C) in course of KMC during the first week of life. In all participants, axillary temperature will be measured with a digital thermometer 4 times per day. In addition, maternal and room temperature will be recorded. Secondary outcome measures will be: episodes of apnea; sepsis; mortality before hospital discharge; in-hospital growth; age at discharge.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
300
Inclusion Criteria
  • Birth weight <2500 g (and)
  • Candidate to KMC treatment (and)
  • Parental consent; a written informed consent will be obtained by a member of the neonatal - Team involved in the study from a parent or guardian before KMC treatment
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Exclusion Criteria
  • Major congenital malformations
  • Twins
  • Parental refusal to participate to the study
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Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
KMC with woolen capWoolen capIn this group, the head of the patients will be covered with a woolen cap during KMC.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Neonatal temperature in the normal range (36.5-37.5°C) in course of KMC treatment.First week of life.
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Age at discharge.From date of birth until the date discharge, whichever came first, assessed up to 2 weeks.
Rate of growth (g/kg/die) during hospital stay.From date of randomization until the date discharge,whichever came first, assessed up to 2 weeks.
Number of Participants With Sepsis defined as Abnormal Laboratory Values and/or Adverse Events That Are Related to Treatment.Through study completion, an average of 2 weeks.
Number of participants died during hospital stay.From date of randomization until the date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 2 weeks.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Daniele TREVISANUTO

🇮🇹

Padua, IT-Italy, Italy

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