Effects of individualized environmental modification program on neurobehavioral organizations of the very low birth weight infants

Abstract

This study was aim to evaluate the effects of individualized environmental modification (IEM) program on neurobehavioral organizations of VLBW infants who admitted in neonatal unit. Twenty-five preterm infants weighing less than 1500 g. and born before 37 weeks' gestation were studied. All infants were served as their own control which received conventional nursing care during control period. IEM program was provided during experimental period which consists of day-night lighting, classical music playing and lavender smelling. The activities were adjusted to the appropriate level of intensity and duration based on each infant's responses. Naturalistic Observation of Newborn Behavior (NONB) was used to observe infants' neurobehavioral organization at baseline, control period and experimental period. Descriptive statistic was used to analyze infants' demographic data. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare mean different of neurobehavioral outcomes of infants between control period and experimental period. The research results showed that infants in experimental period had significantly showed better positive autonomic responses, positive motoric behaviors and positive attention behaviors comparing to control period. Additionally, infants in the experiment period sleep longer and spent fewer times in transitional and arousal states than in the control period. In conclusion, VLBW infants were benefited from IEM program in term of neurobehavioral organization. Promotion of VLBW infants' neurobehavioral organization admitted in a sick newborn unit can be implemented by integrated the IEM program in a routine nursing care for VLBW infants