Transcutaneous bilirubin levels of newborn infants performed abdominal massage: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

PurposeThis study was designed as a randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of abdominal massage on bilirubin levels of newborn infants. Design and MethodsThe sample group consisted of 90 newborn infants (experimental group: 44; control group: 46) who were followed in a university hospital after birth between March and August 2017. The data were collected using an Information Form, Observation Form, and Transcutaneous Bilirubin Level Meter. Bilirubin levels were measured 1hr after the first breastfeeding in both groups. The abdominal massage was performed for 5min in each session, was continued in three sessions per day; was completed in totally six sessions for 2 days in infants in the experimental group. The second bilirubin measurements were repeated at the 48th hour after the birth and bilirubin levels were compared in two groups. The Student t test was used to evaluate the normally distributed data and the Mann-Whitney U test was used to carry out statistics in nonnormal distribution of quantitative data. ResultsThe bilirubin levels of the groups (experimental group: 1.060.92; control group: 1.01 +/- 0.98) were statistically similar before abdominal massage, t(88)=0.25, p=0.803. The difference of the bilirubin levels was compared in the groups before and after abdominal massage. The increase of bilirubin levels in the experimental group (1.96 +/- 1.69mg/dl) was statistically significantly lower compared with the control group (2.80 +/- 2.30mg/dl), t(88)=-1.974, p=0.048. Practice ImplicationsAbdominal massage is effective to reduce bilirubin levels of newborn infants.