The Effects of Three-Stair Positioning Pillows Used for Preterm Infants on Physiological Parameters and Sleep-Wakefulness Status

This research was carried a randomized controlled experimental design. The sample size in the study was 1.08, type 1 error was 5%, and statistical power was 95%, according to the power analysis performed by taking into account the Breathing frequency values of the groups in the study called "Effectiveness of Hammock Positioning in Reducing Pain and Improving Sleep-Wakefulness State in Preterm Infants". It was calculated as a total of 48 participants, 24 in each group (Ribas et al., 2019). Considering the possibility of losses, 30 preterm infants with TSPP (experimental) and 30 preterm infants who were not used (control) were included and the infants were randomly assigned to the groups. The block randomization method was used to ensure that the infants were similar in terms of both weeks and weight due to the large interval between the weeks and to ensure the balance between the groups. Infants were divided into 2 groups as 28-31 week gestation and 32-35 week gestation. 30 infants were randomly distributed to each gestational week group as experimental and control groups through a program available at http://www.randomizer.org. Families were informed by the researcher about the method of the study through face-to-face interviews, written and verbal consents were obtained, and the information about preterm infants and their families was recorded in the "Information Form". The actigraphy measuring device was connected to the computer and the device was installed by entering the parameters such as the name and surname of the infant to be treated and the time interval in which the recordings would be made. Data were collected from a single hall in the NICU. The noise level of the intensive care unit (NICU) was measured with the Uni-T UT353 Mini Decibelmeter Device and the average noise level of the hall where the data were collected was between 50-55 dB. The infant was cared for, fed and treated by the primary nurse responsible for the infant between 08:30 and 08:55. No intervention was made to the preterm infant between 09:00-12:00 and the infant was allowed to rest. Between these hours, the oxygen saturation and heart rate of the preterm infants in both groups were counted by the researcher with a pulse oximeter device and recorded 18 times in 10 minutes. Sleep-wakefulness status was recorded by taking 15-second recordings with the Actigraphy measuring device. Preterm infants in the experimental group were followed in the prone position with three-stair positioning pillows and the infants in the control group were followed in the routine 15º head raised prone position between the hours of the research follow-up. The study followed the CONSORT guideline for reporting randomized controlled trials.